Australia Calls Out Big Tech on Child Safety Gaps

Australia's internet regulator, eSafety, has revealed significant deficiencies in the efforts of major technology firms like Apple, Meta, and Google to combat child sexual abuse and online sexual extortion. The eSafety Commissioner stated on Tuesday that these platforms are not adequately employing available technologies capable of identifying common coercion scripts used by sexual extortion offenders.

Despite receiving clear guidance and evidence of criminal activity on their services, companies have not demonstrated sufficient responses. The report indicates persistent gaps in reporting tools across messaging and gaming platforms, making it difficult for users to report abuse. While some improvements have been noted, such as Google and Snap proactively detecting child abuse material, the consistent deployment of existing technologies to prevent harm remains a concern.

Sexual extortion, a form of online blackmail, has affected many, with young men aged 18-24 being the most impacted demographic. Between July and December 2025, eSafety received over 2,000 complaints related to this issue. A study last year revealed that over one in ten teenagers aged 16-18 had experienced sexual extortion, with many targeted before the age of 16, highlighting the critical need for better online safety measures.