Social media giants Twitter, Tiktok and Google have been ordered to reveal what they’re doing to combat child abuse or face daily fines of up to $700,000. Australia’s eSafety commissioner has issued legal threats giving the tech companies 35 days to respond.
Social media giants Twitter, TikTok and Google have been issued a legal notice from Australia’s eSafety commissioner, demanding they explain what measures they are taking to combat child abuse on their platforms. The companies have 35 days to respond or face daily fines of up to $700,000.
The eSafety commissioner has made it clear that the tech companies must take responsibility for the content shared on their platforms and ensure that it does not include any form of child exploitation. This includes tackling blackmail attempts and other forms of online sexual abuse.
It is essential that these tech giants take action to protect children from harm and ensure that their platforms are safe spaces for users. It is encouraging to see the Australian government taking a stand against online child abuse and holding these companies accountable for their actions.
Tech Giants to Reveal How They Combat Child Abuse in Response to Legal Notice from ESafety Commissioner
Tech giants such as Google, Twitter, and Facebook are being called out by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and asked to reveal how they are combating online child abuse. The eSafety Commissioner has taken legal action to demand that these tech companies provide information on the safety measures they have in place to help prevent and combat online child abuse. We will take a look at the legal action being taken and the steps these tech companies are taking to fight back against this serious issue.
Australia Takes Action Against Online Child Abuse and Exploitation
Australia has taken action against online child abuse and exploitation, issuing legal notices to tech companies including Twitter, TikTok and Google. The eSafety Commissioner in Australia has issued legal notices to tech companies, demanding that they answer questions about how they tackle potential child sexual abuse and blackmail attempts on their platforms.
Questions asked include what processes are used to detect and remove child sexual abuse content from platforms, such as live streams; whether algorithms amplify the reach of abusive content; and how companies respond to attempted sexual extortion against underage users. In 2021 alone there were 29.1 million reports made globally to the US National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC); 875K reported by Google, 154K reported by Tik Tok & 86K from Twitter but these figures aren’t necessarily true reflections as some incidents go unreported due lack of knowledge around reporting mechanisms.
There is an additional request for tech industry players to draw up an enforceable code related illegal online material with responses expected in March 2021. This follows job cuts in November of key trust and safety personnel on Twitter whose responsibility it is to protect children online. These job cuts have been criticised by experts as being potentially disastrous given the serious nature of the issue at hand. It’s essential that we have a safety net in place that can help us identify potential cases of child sexual abuse before they escalate into more serious crimes such as blackmail or even physical assault.
It is clear that technology companies need to take action to combat the increasing prevalence of online child abuse. With the eSafety Commissioner taking legal action, these companies have a responsibility to answer questions about their safety measures and report incidents when they occur. It is up to all of us – from technology giants, parents, teachers, and beyond – to work together in order to create a safe online environment for our children. Therefore, let us join forces and make sure that our children can use technology safely and securely!
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