According to TechRadar, Telegram has filed a lawsuit in Australia’s Federal Court challenging a A$957,780 fine from the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. The dispute stems from Australia’s Online Safety Act 2021, which requires platforms to detail their strategies for combating extremist material and child abuse content. Telegram missed the deadline for responding to the commissioner’s notice, leading to the massive penalty. The company claims it never properly received the initial notice and argues it’s not legally defined as a “provider of social-media services” under Australian law. Meanwhile, Australia is preparing to implement some of the world’s strictest age verification rules starting December 10, 2025, which will require platforms like Facebook and TikTok to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services.
Privacy versus safety
Here’s the thing about age verification laws – they sound great in theory. Who wouldn’t want to protect kids online? But the implementation gets messy fast. To actually verify someone’s age, platforms need to collect sensitive data like biometric information or identity documents. That means every user’s personal data becomes part of the system, creating massive honeypots for potential breaches. Privacy advocates are rightly terrified about what happens when this data inevitably gets hacked or misused.
The VPN effect
When governments push too hard on digital controls, users push back with technology. Look what happened in the UK after their Online Safety Act – VPN usage skyrocketed by 1,400% according to one provider. People basically said “screw this” and found ways around the restrictions. Australia’s heading down the same path, where citizens might choose digital privacy tools over complying with intrusive regulations. It’s a classic case of government overreach leading to unintended consequences.
Global implications
This case matters way beyond Australia’s borders. Governments everywhere are wrestling with how to regulate global tech platforms, and Telegram’s lawsuit could set a crucial precedent. If Australia wins, it might encourage other countries to pursue similar aggressive regulations. But if Telegram succeeds in arguing that global platforms can’t be easily subjected to every jurisdiction’s laws, that could rein in regulatory overreach. The outcome will essentially define how much control individual countries have over borderless digital services.
What’s next
So where does this leave users? Basically caught in the middle of a power struggle between governments and tech companies. While everyone agrees that protecting children online is important, the methods being proposed create serious privacy risks for everyone. The Telegram case will be closely watched by privacy advocates, tech companies, and governments worldwide. It’s not just about one messaging app fighting a fine – it’s about determining the future balance between safety, privacy, and free expression online. And honestly, that’s a battle worth paying attention to.
