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3w ago

Australia Finds Major Platforms Failing Child Safety Requirements

Regulators plan fines up to A$50 million after a report exposed platforms’ failure to track child abuse reports alongside gaps in safety technologies.

Children playground miniatures are seen in front of displayed Youtube logo in this illustration taken April 4, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Overview

  • The eSafety Commission’s first biannual transparency report revealed that YouTube and Apple did not track user reports of child sexual abuse or disclose how long they took to respond.
  • None of the mandated companies have fully implemented hash-matching or live-stream detection tools, leaving grooming and sexual extortion threats insufficiently monitored.
  • Providers including Google, Meta and Microsoft showed limited improvements despite warnings since 2022, with only Meta and WhatsApp adopting some grooming and extortion filters.
  • Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed YouTube will join the under-16 social media ban when it takes effect in December, though enforcement plans remain unclear.
  • The government is drafting regulations to enforce the expanded ban with potential fines up to A$50 million and expects legal challenges from tech firms.