The Epoch Times By
Australian authorities have ordered global tech giants to report on the actions they have taken to stop the spread of child sexual exploitation materials on their platforms and will impose penalties on non-compliant companies.
Among the companies receiving legal notices (pdf) from the eSafety Commissioner are Apple, Microsoft, Snap, Omegle and Meta, which owns WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
The move is in accordance with the Online Safety Act 2021, which eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant described as a “world-leading tool.”
The act includes basic online safety expectations detailing minimum requirements that tech companies have to meet if they want to operate in Australia.
For instance, online service providers are expected to minimize harmful materials or activities on their platforms proactively. And if they use encryption, they need to develop and implement processes to detect and address child abuse materials.
