Australia finds serious gaps in Big Tech response to online child sexual abuse

Big Tech companies, including Apple, Meta and Google, have "significant gaps" in tackling child sexual abuse and the growing threat of online sexual extortion, Australia's internet regulator said on Tuesday.



Online platforms are failing to use available technologies that can identify well-known coercion scripts used by sexual extortion offenders, eSafety said in a transparency report.



"In several cases, we have provided these platforms with evidence of how their services are being colonised by criminals to devastating impact, with clear guidance on how to stem the abuse," said eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.



"Even when we've laid this out, we haven't seen adequate responses, despite the technology being readily available."



Google, Meta, Snap, Microsoft and Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.



The latest report comes after the government introduced legislation in June to give eSafety more power to pursue tech giants in court for failing to comply with its ban on social media for under-16s, escalating a regulatory clash over how to protect children and teenagers online.