Popular encrypted messaging app Telegram failed to detect and remove pro-terrorist and extremist material, including videos of executions and attacks, a new lawsuit launched by Australia’s online watchdog alleges.

The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, announced in Sydney on Thursday morning she was taking legal action against Telegram in the Federal Court, following a year-long investigation.

“This case concerns content linked to some of the most notorious acts of known extremist violence in recent history,” she said.

This is the first time the eSafety Commissioner has legally enforced online codes and standards relating to unlawful material, which came into effect a year ago. It will test her powers.

Launched in 2013, Telegram was originally developed by brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov as a response to the encroaching control imposed by the Russian government. It promised a more secure channel for communication.

It now boasts a billion users globally. There are upwards of 1.5 million monthly visits from Australia.

Telegram occupies a distinctive niche among the major social media providers. Its limited moderation makes it a prized resource for communication by dissidents and activists, as well as media organisations in authoritarian nations.

For the same reason, it’s also a haven for extremist groups. According to the........

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