Australia’s eSafety commissioner waters down child abuse detection rules in online safety standards

Tech firms that provide end-to-end encrypted messaging services, including Apple and Signal, have pushed for a watering down of Australian rules compelling them detect child abuse and terror content. Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Australian online safety regulator has watered down new rules to force tech companies to detect child abuse and terror content on encrypted messaging and cloud storage services, after some of the biggest tech firms in the world warned it could lead to mass government surveillance.

In November, the eSafety commissioner announced draft standards that would require the operators of cloud and messaging services to detect and remove known child abuse and pro-terror material “where technically feasible”, as well as disrupt and deter new material of the same nature.