{"id":76286,"date":"2026-02-04T16:35:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T19:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/889408040"},"modified":"2026-02-04T16:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T19:35:44","slug":"online-safety-watchdog-says-tech-giants-failing-to-detect-child-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/04\/online-safety-watchdog-says-tech-giants-failing-to-detect-child-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Online safety watchdog says tech giants failing to detect child abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"Article_layout__1pl0i\">\n<div class=\"ArticleHeadline_container__cAj5Q Article_head__D5qU4\" data-component=\"ArticleHeadline\">\n<div class=\"Article_headContent__PNoau\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"NewsContentLabels_labels__DoXtv\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleHeadlineTitle_container__f00HU Article_headTitle__EIGwR\" data-chartbeat-authors=\"[]\">\n<h1 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP ArticleHeadlineTitle_title__A2dkr Typography_sizeMobile24__GzKLB Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_serif__qU2V5 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Typography\">Online safety watchdog says tech giants failing to detect child abuse<\/h1>\n<p><span class=\"ArticleHeadlineTitleByline_byline__L2QD7\"><span class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Byline_byline__1LJC2 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_letterSpacedNone__rZ0yQ\" data-component=\"Byline\"><span class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_letterSpacedSm__V8kil\" data-component=\"Text\"><\/p>\n<div><span>By chief digital political correspondent <a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/clare-armstrong\/105969816\" data-component=\"ContentLink\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/person\/105969816\">Clare Armstrong<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"CardTagList_tags__dheC7 scrollbar_scrollbarThemed__kGZnS\">\n<li><span class=\"Tag_container__7_5W6 CardTag_container__uoMZ7\"><a data-component=\"SubjectTag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/topic\/federal-government\" class=\"Tag_link__PE2t9 Tag_tag__TMEI2 CardTag_tag__2hWFV ArticleHeadlineTitle_tag__E9UOl CardTag_pill__w_eEQ\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP CardTag_text__99Z73 Typography_typography__clrwy Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\" style=\"--mobileFontSize:0.875rem;--mobileLineHeight:1.25;--laptopSmFontSize:0.875rem\"><span class=\"ScreenReaderOnly_srOnly__bnJwm\" data-component=\"ScreenReaderOnly\">Topic:<\/span>Federal Government<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ArticleHeadlineTitle_meta__eYg46\"><time class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP ArticleHeadlineTitle_metaTimestamp__Ri6e7 DynamicTimestamp_displayDate__Y3t35 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_letterSpacedSm__V8kil\" data-component=\"Timestamp\" aria-hidden=\"true\" datetime=\"2026-02-04T19:10:17.000Z\"><span>1h ago<\/span><\/time><time class=\"ScreenReaderOnly_srOnly__bnJwm\" data-component=\"ScreenReaderOnly\" datetime=\"2026-02-04T19:10:17.000Z\">1 hours ago<\/time><time class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP ArticleHeadlineTitle_metaTimestamp__Ri6e7 DynamicTimestamp_printDate__OVPa2 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_letterSpacedSm__V8kil\" data-component=\"Text\"><span>Wed 4 Feb 2026 at 7:10pm<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<figure class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL Figure_figure__xLyBy Figure_docImage__DSvk4\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-component=\"Figure\" id=\"106306574\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/imageproxy\/106306574\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"FigureContent_content__GnImC\">\n<div class=\"ContentImage_ratio__0yYeG\">\n<div class=\"AspectRatio_container__FC_XH\" style=\"--aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777\" data-component=\"AspectRatioContainer\"><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"A woman speaking with hand gestures.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/1e2955036371152df7f60c83882b97a5?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=2813&cropW=5000&xPos=0&yPos=260&width=862&height=485&ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"Figure_caption__fS2lN\" data-component=\"Figure__figcaption\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Julie Inman Grant is the head of Australia&#8217;s online safety regulator.<!-- --> <cite>(<span>AAP: Lukas Coach<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ArticleSummary_summary__Zf0LG Article_head__D5qU4\">\n<div class=\"Article_main__wLtNk\">\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B heading_heading__C7MQP Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_black__9qnZ1 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">In short:<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__Z5Ozx\">Major tech companies including Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft are still failing to do enough to detect and stop child sexual abuse, eSafety has claimed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__Z5Ozx\">A new report highlights gaps in proactively preventing exploitation and sexual extortion activity on livestreaming, video and messaging platforms.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B heading_heading__C7MQP Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_black__9qnZ1 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">What&#8217;s next?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__Z5Ozx\">ESafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is calling on the tech companies to lift their efforts to prevent the spread of exploitation material.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Article_layout__1pl0i\">\n<div class=\"ArticleWeb_article__jRLK1 Article_main__wLtNk Article_hasSidebars__HFpa0\">\n<div class=\"engagement_target__kiIVK ArticleRender_article__RdZk2\">\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Tech giants are still failing to detect and stop child sexual abuse on their platforms despite having the technology and resources to tackle it, a new report has found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Australia&#8217;s eSafety Commissioner has identified major gaps in how some of the world&#8217;s biggest companies identify and prevent online child exploitation, including livestreamed abuse, grooming, AI-generated material and sexual extortion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">A new transparency report released today has acknowledged some &#8220;welcome improvements,&#8221; but also highlighted how the eight companies monitored \u2014 Apple, Discord, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Skype, Snap and WhatsApp \u2014 are not consistently applying &#8220;basic&#8221; technology to protect children.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_outdentDesktop__ijbiK Figure_figure__xLyBy Figure_docImage__DSvk4\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-component=\"Figure\" id=\"106232844\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/imageproxy\/106232844\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"FigureContent_content__GnImC\">\n<div class=\"ContentImage_ratio__0yYeG\">\n<div class=\"AspectRatio_container__FC_XH\" style=\"--aspect-ratio:1.5\" data-component=\"AspectRatioContainer\"><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"A woman's hand holds a phone displaying a number of widgets for various apps.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/49f0556200e8ea76e35402e2566ed308?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=682&cropW=1023&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575&ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"Figure_caption__fS2lN\" data-component=\"Figure__figcaption\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Social media platforms were required to provide data to eSafety as part of the laws introduced in December.<!-- --> <cite>(<span>ABC News: Abbey Haberecht<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">ESafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said combating child sexual abuse online was not just an issue of legality, but a critical matter of &#8220;corporate conscience and accountability&#8221; for the tech giants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;These companies are no strangers to innovation and have the technological capability to develop new technologies to detect this harm in the fight to end live online abuse of children,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;This represents a failure of industry will, not of technical capability.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">&#8216;Inadequate&#8217; detection of child sexual exploitation in video calling services<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The report found companies are not consistently applying tools available to detect when abuse is occurring on live video.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">For example, Meta does use detection technology for Facebook and Instagram live, but not its Messenger platform.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Similarly, Google does not use the tools for Google Meet, but does for YouTube.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Other providers of video calling services not using proactive detection tools on any of their services included Apple FaceTime, Discord&#8217;s live and video call functions, Microsoft Teams, Snapchat and WhatsApp.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ms Inman Grant said the companies have had years to make their spaces safer, but continued to fail at this responsibility.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;Here we&#8217;ve highlighted eight of the largest and very mature trillion-dollar companies, and they still don&#8217;t have their house in order,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;These are high-risk, high-impact issues that have devastating consequences for young Australians.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">Young Australian men the biggest targets of sexual extortion<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">eSafety also found Apple, Discord, Google&#8217;s chat, meet and messages, Microsoft Teams, Skype and Snap were not using any language analysis technology to proactively detect sexual extortion of children or adults on their services.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">By comparison, Meta&#8217;s Facebook and Threads, Microsoft&#8217;s Xbox and Google&#8217;s YouTube used these tools on all material by default.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_outdentDesktop__ijbiK Figure_figure__xLyBy Figure_docImage__DSvk4\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-component=\"Figure\" id=\"106306712\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/imageproxy\/106306712\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"FigureContent_content__GnImC\">\n<div class=\"ContentImage_ratio__0yYeG\">\n<div class=\"AspectRatio_container__FC_XH\" style=\"--aspect-ratio:1.3333333333333333\" data-component=\"AspectRatioContainer\"><img data-opt-id=758893364  decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Girl at computer with emojis and speech bubble reading 'Are you alone?'\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/833323fd83080ea05d32f96cfdf73bea?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1440&xPos=194&yPos=0&width=862&height=647&ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"Figure_caption__fS2lN\" data-component=\"Figure__figcaption\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The eSafety Commission found that platforms are not using appropriate technology to proactively detect sexual extortion on their services.<!-- --> <cite>(<span>Graphic: <a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2 Link_underlineOnHover__Wg_BQ\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\" data-component=\"Link\">Unsplash<\/a>: <a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2 Link_underlineOnHover__Wg_BQ\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@steinart\" data-component=\"Link\">Steinar Engeland<\/a>\/ABC News: Sharon Gordon<\/span>)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Sexual extortion is a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share a nude or sexual image or video unless the person targeted gives into their demands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ms Inman Grant said eSafety was &#8220;overwhelmed&#8221; with reports of organised criminal networks infiltrating mainstream social media and messaging platforms &#8220;targeting young Australian men&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;This has resulted in suicides, so it&#8217;s a pretty heinous form of sexual exploitation, and they (the criminals) are doing it at scale,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ms Inman Grant said eSafety had sent intelligence reports to tech companies with lists of &#8220;language indicators&#8221; to help them detect extortion, but few had used the &#8220;basic AI&#8221; needed to do this.<\/p>\n<div class=\"EmphasisedText_emphasisedText__McMdj ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL\" data-component=\"EmphasisedText\">\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;These companies aren&#8217;t eating their own dog food,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"EmphasisedText_attribution__L6Ebw\"> <!-- --> she said.<\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;They&#8217;re developing high end AI tools and services for customers, but they&#8217;re not using it on their own platforms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;That kind of beggars belief.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B future_heading__Gcudw Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile20__NUDn4 Typography_sizeDesktop32__LR_G6 Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop40__BuoRf Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">Some &#8216;welcome&#8217; improvements<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Microsoft was acknowledged for expanding its use of tools to detect known child abuse material in OneDrive and email attachments in Outlook sent worldwide.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Meanwhile, Snap has reduced the time taken for moderators to reach an outcome after receiving a report of abuse material from 90 minutes to just 11 minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Google has launched a feature that blurs incoming images containing nudity before viewing, as has Apple for accounts with users who have declared themselves to be aged under 13.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">The eSafety report is the second of four to be published in the coming months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">It is based on disclosures the eight companies are legally required to provide, or face fines of up to $825,000 for every day they do not respond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">Ms Inman Grant said reports were a &#8220;reputational lever&#8221; that could be more effective than regulatory crackdowns in getting companies to do more than the &#8220;bare minimum&#8221; on safety.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;Without transparency, you can&#8217;t have any accountability,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph__iYReA\">&#8220;We just need to keep plugging away and keep exposing where the holes are, you know if you can do it on one platform \u2026 if you can deploy language detection technology or newer technologies \u2026 on one service, you can do it on another,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p><span data-component=\"Loading\" data-print=\"inline-media\" class=\"Loading_loading__21MZU Loading_loading__EPOtN\"><span class=\"Loading_spinner__zmkAw Loading_spinnerSize32__Z_XId Loading_spinnerColourBrand__CqEIF\"><\/span><span class=\"ScreenReaderOnly_srOnly__bnJwm\" data-component=\"ScreenReaderOnly\" role=\"alert\" aria-live=\"assertive\">Loading<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<footer>\n<div class=\"ArticleWeb_dateline__G3IbH\" data-component=\"Dateline\"><span class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC 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