Australia gives Twitter 28 days to sort out ‘toxicity and hate’ One in three complaints about online hate in Australia are about the platform. Al Jazeera · Jun 22, 2023
Twitter has ‘dropped the ball’ on tackling online hate Australia's eSafety Commissioner is demanding Twitter explain what it is doing to tackle online hate, amid a surge in complaints since Elon Musk's takeover. The New Daily · Jun 22, 2023
Twitter accused of responding ‘to tyrants quickly’ but ignoring Australian government Julie Inman Grant tells Senate estimates Twitter’s slowness to tackle online child abuse material is in contrast to its blocking of anti-Erdoğan tweets in the lead-up to the Turkish election The Guardian - AU · May 25, 2023
Reports of 'sextortion' triple in first quarter of 2023, with young men most at risk Reports of "sextortion" to the eSafety Commissioner triple in the first quarter of 2023, with victims most likely to be young men. ABC News · May 24, 2023
Age verification for adult websites may involve Australian government digital ID ‘We do not want young people having unfettered access to pornography,’ communications minister Michelle Rowland says The Guardian - AU · May 16, 2023
Australian government threatens tougher regulation as eSafety commissioner decries Twitter’s ‘sewer rats’ Australian contacts for dealing with law enforcement issues, such as takedown notices for abuse or bullying have disappeared from the platform The Guardian - AU · May 16, 2023
Twitter, TikTok and Google ordered to explain efforts to crack down on child abuse trade Five social media companies face daily fines of up to $700,000 if they do not reveal to Australia's eSafety commissioner what they are doing to combat the trade in child exploitation material on their platforms. ABC News · Feb 22, 2023
Online dating platforms warned they will be hit with mandatory codes if they don't clean up their apps A national roundtable on online dating has secured commitments to improve safety on dating apps, with a warning that platforms will be hit with mandatory codes if they fail to meet expectations. ABC News · Jan 25, 2023
Dating apps being weaponised by criminals Industry and government are coming together to crack down on serial offenders who harass and abuse women using dating apps. AAP · Jan 23, 2023
Microsoft and Apple among the global companies accused of 'turning a blind eye' to child sexual exploitation Some of the world's biggest technology companies, like Microsoft and Apple, aren't doing enough to prevent the spread of child sexual exploitation on their platforms, according Australia's e-Safety Commissioner. ABC News · Dec 14, 2022
Gifts of virtual reality headsets and other tech for children come with risks, parents warned Virtual reality can be immersive and educational, but also harmful, so parents need to ask themselves a few questions before Christmas. The New Daily · Nov 28, 2022
Fight to block pro-suicide website that discusses substance linked to spike in deaths There's been a spike in deaths in Australia linked to a lethal substance frequently discussed on the offshore forum. Some of those who've died spent time on the site, which experts say has guided suicidal people toward death instead of away from it. ABC News · Nov 15, 2022
Australia’s eSafety commissioner cautions Elon Musk over Twitter legal concerns Julie Inman Grant tells Senate estimates hearing she worries staff exodus and charging for blue tick could impact safety protections The Guardian - AU · Nov 8, 2022
Australia's eSafety commissioner writes to Elon Musk concerned about Twitter's direction Australia's eSafety Commissioner writes to Elon Musk expressing concern with the direction he is taking Twitter in. She says "content moderation is not rocket science" but, in some ways, it is more complicated. ABC News · Nov 8, 2022
The New Daily · Nov 8, 2022 ‘Malfeasance’: Digital watchdog fears Elon Musk’s Twitter puts Australians at risk Australia's online safety regulator has written to Twitter boss Elon Musk seeking urgent clarification about how the platform's changes.
ABC News · Aug 30, 2022 Australia's e-safety commissioner issues legal notices to Apple, Meta and Microsoft Australian authorities issue Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Snap and Omegle with legal notices.
The Canberra Times · Jun 9, 2022 'A global scourge': eSafety Commission records increase in online child abuse material Australia's eSafety Commissioner is calling for greater global cooperation to stop online child sexual abuse.
The Guardian - AU · Feb 2, 2022 Albanese demands Colbeck ‘resign today’ as nation records 82 Covid deaths – as it happened This blog is now closed