Australia Says Big Tech Has ‘Significant Gaps’ in Tackling Child Sexual Abuse and Online Sexual Extortion

Australia’s internet regulator has accused some of the world’s largest technology companies; including Apple⁠, Meta and Google,⁠ of having significant shortcomings in their efforts to combat child sexual abuse material and the growing threat of online sexual extortion, commonly known as “sextortion.”

The criticism came from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, which released findings from a review of major digital platforms and technology services. The regulator said that while many companies have introduced safety measures, substantial weaknesses remain in detecting, preventing and responding to online child exploitation. According to the report, some platforms still lack sufficient transparency about how they identify abusive content, report incidents to authorities and protect vulnerable users from predators.

The review examined how major technology companies handle child safety risks across social media platforms, messaging services, cloud storage systems and app ecosystems. Regulators found that several companies were unable to provide comprehensive information about the prevalence of child abuse material on their platforms or the effectiveness of their detection systems. The findings raised concerns that harmful content may be going undetected or unreported.

Particular attention was given to the growing problem of online sexual extortion. In many cases, criminals manipulate children or teenagers into sharing intimate images before demanding money, additional images or other forms of compliance under threats of exposure. Law enforcement agencies around the world have reported a sharp increase in such cases in recent years, with some incidents resulting in severe psychological trauma and, in extreme circumstances, suicide among victims.

Australia’s regulator said technology companies must do more to proactively identify suspicious activity, improve reporting mechanisms and cooperate with law enforcement agencies investigating child exploitation networks. Officials argued that companies with billions of users possess sophisticated artificial intelligence and content moderation tools that should be more effectively deployed to protect children online.

The report also highlighted concerns regarding encrypted messaging services. While privacy advocates support strong encryption to protect user communications, regulators warned that end-to-end encryption can make it more difficult to detect child exploitation activity. The issue has become a major point of debate between governments, technology companies and digital rights groups worldwide.

Technology firms responded by pointing to existing safety initiatives. Meta noted that it has invested heavily in child safety technologies, reporting systems and educational resources for parents and young users. Google emphasized its use of artificial intelligence to detect and remove harmful content, while Apple highlighted its child safety features and efforts to protect minors across its ecosystem. The companies maintain that protecting children remains a top priority.

Child protection organizations welcomed the regulator’s findings, arguing that stronger safeguards are urgently needed as children spend increasing amounts of time online. Advocacy groups say digital platforms must continuously adapt to evolving threats posed by criminal networks that exploit technological advances to target young people.

The report is likely to intensify pressure on governments and regulators around the world to introduce stricter online safety requirements for technology companies. Australia has been among the most active countries in pursuing digital safety reforms, and officials indicated that further regulatory action could be considered if platforms fail to strengthen protections against child sexual abuse and online sexual extortion.

The findings add to a broader global debate over the responsibilities of major technology companies in safeguarding users, particularly children, while balancing privacy, free expression and security concerns. As online threats continue to evolve, regulators say the effectiveness of industry-led safety measures will remain under close scrutiny.