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Media releases

Industry

New world-first standards set new rules for how tech giants must tackle worst-of-the-worst online content

World-first industry standards designed to require global tech giants to tackle the most harmful online content including child sexual abuse material and pro-terror content are set to become law.
Industry
Parents

eSafety statement on the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024

eSafety will work with government, industry, youth and the broader community to implement the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which has now received Royal Assent.
Domestic violence
Women

Track, harass, repeat: love in the age of tech

Almost a quarter of Australians think it's reasonable to expect to have a partner’s device codes and more than 1 in 10 think it's reasonable to expect to track a partner using location-sharing apps, new eSafety research shows.
Industry

eSafety statement on Social Media Minimum Age Bill

eSafety welcomes the introduction to Parliament of the Australian Government’s Social Media Minimum Age Bill setting a minimum age of 16 for access to certain age-restricted social media platforms.
Industry
Young people

eSafety statement on social media age to be set at 16

eSafety acknowledges the government’s proposal to introduce a minimum age of 16 for access to social media platforms and welcomes the government’s leadership on this important issue.
Industry

Statement on Apple user reporting safety measure

eSafety welcomes Apple’s introduction of a new feature allowing Australian children to easily report unwanted nude images directly to the company, nearly 2 years after eSafety’s transparency reporting first found the lack of these basic safety measures.
Industry

eSafety statement: Administrative Appeals Tribunal orders

With agreement of both parties, the AAT has today made orders to resolve the proceedings brought by X Corp in relation to a removal notice issued by eSafety relating to material depicting a declared terrorist attack in Wakeley, NSW in April 2024.
Industry

eSafety statement: Federal Court judgment

The Federal Court has today ruled X Corp was obliged to respond to a transparency notice seeking information about measures to address child sexual exploitation material
Industry

Digital platform regulators release working paper on multimodal foundation models

The Digital Platform Regulators Forum (DP-REG) has published a working paper on multimodal foundation models (MFMs) used in generative artificial intelligence (AI).
Industry

eSafety statement: national age restrictions for digital platforms

eSafety will continue working with stakeholders across government and the community to further refine Australia’s approach to online harms following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement today of a Commonwealth-led approach to age restrictions on
Industry

eSafety statement: South Australia social media announcement

eSafety acknowledges the announcement yesterday by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas of a proposed bill to limit access to social media for children
Industry

Statement: eSafety seeks to uphold transparency around child sexual abuse

eSafety is today seeking to uphold a transparency notice requesting information from X Corp about measures against child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
Industry
Kids

eSafety calls on social media giants to reveal just how many Aussie kids are signing up

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has requested information from some of the world’s most popular social media and messaging services to find out just how many Australian children are on their platforms.
Cyberbullying
Kids

Spotlight on Cyberbullying as complaints and awareness rise

Community awareness of cyberbullying and how to respond continued to grow last financial year, with reports rising by 37 per cent.
Industry

eSafety Statement - Terrorist and extremist material on social media

The spread of terrorist and extremist material on social media and its role in online radicalisation remains a concern both in here in Australia and overseas
Industry

Tech giants to face uncomfortable truths as eSafety compels them to lift their game tackling child abuse

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has issued legal notices to tech giants including Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft, requiring the companies to report to the regulator every six months about measures they have in place to tackle online child sexual abuse
Image-based abuse

Senate Standing Committee Opening Statement: Criminal Code Amendment (Deepfake Sexual Material) Bill 2024

Delivered by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant
Industry
Kids

Clock ticking for online industry to come up with plan to protect Aussie kids from porn

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has issued notices to key members of the online industry giving them six months to come up with enforceable codes that will protect children from graphic pornography and other high-impact content.
Young people

Addressing youth crime on social media platforms

The eSafety Commissioner convened a roundtable to enhance coordination of responses to cyber-enabled youth offending through social media.
Industry

Industry standards to tackle worst-of-the-worst online content a key step closer

Today, two industry standards developed by the eSafety Commissioner have been registered, requiring a range of online services to do more to tackle child sexual abuse and pro-terror material on their platforms.
Research
Young people

Calling all himfluencers: Young men need positive, diverse role models

New research has revealed young men have few online examples to turn to as they grapple with what masculinity and manhood means in today’s world
Industry

eSafety partners with the European Commission to support enforcement of online safety regulations

eSafety has joined forces with DG CNECT, the European Commission entity responsible for the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), under a ground-breaking new agreement.
Industry

Statement from the eSafety Commissioner re: Federal Court proceedings

Today I have decided to consolidate action concerning my Class 1 removal notice to X Corp in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Industry

eSafety Budget Estimates Opening Statement

The internet can be a wonderful but sometimes dangerous place. A place where our children can create, connect and explore but also where they may be targeted by predators or bullies and exposed to horrendous abuse or graphic violence through social media.
Reporting

Electoral commissions in Australia ramp up efforts to protect staff from online harm

New protocol with eSafety creates a pathway for requesting assistance to remove seriously harmful online material targeting election workers
Industry

New cross-border roadmap to regulate online harms

As child sexual abuse material and deepfakes multiply, eSafety has joined with global partners to build greater cross-border coordination
Seniors

2 million learners and counting: seniors choose to Be Connected online

Older Australians are continuing to expand their digital skills as the Australian Government’s Be Connected program marks its two millionth learner.
Industry

Statement on Federal Court decision

The Federal Court today did not grant the eSafety Commissioner’s application to extend the interim injunction given to X Corp on 16 April 2024
Industry

Statement: announcement of age assurance trial

eSafety welcomes the Government’s announcement of an age assurance trial to explore its efficacy in protecting children from encountering pornography and other high-impact online content.
Industry

Statement on Federal Court order

The Federal Court today granted a further interim injunction requiring X Corp to immediately hide Class 1 material on X subject to a removal notice of 16 April.
Industry

Statement on removal of extreme violent content

Yesterday the Federal Court granted an interim injunction compelling X Corp to hide Class 1 material on X subject of eSafety’s removal notice of 16 April, 2024
Industry

Tech companies grilled on how they are tackling terror and violent extremism

eSafety has issued legal notices to Google, Meta, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Telegram and Reddit requiring each company to report on steps they are taking to protect Australians from terrorist and violent extremist material and activity
Industry

Search engines will need to take steps to tackle child sexual abuse material and AI misuse under new code

Search engines be required to take steps to prevent child sexual abuse material being returned in search results.
Industry

Standards submission publication: statement

eSafety is currently considering feedback received during this consultation process on its draft Industry Standards for Designated Internet Services (DIS) and Relevant Electronic Services (RES)
Research
Parents

Play to win: How to help your kids benefit from online gaming

New research shows there are significant benefits to online gaming alongside the risks, and active parental involvement can make it safer
Industry
Parents

eSafety and the EU Child Rights Intergroup team up to protect children online  

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights have joined forces to promote and protect the online rights of children and improve their digital safety.

eSafety acknowledges all First Nations people for their continuing care of everything Country encompasses — land, waters and community. We pay our respects to First Nations people, and to Elders past and present.

First Nations people should be aware that this website may contain images and voices of people who have died.

Find information and resources for First Nations people.

Read our Reconciliation Action Plan.

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