Australia has issued a six-month ultimatum to the internet industry to create an enforceable code that prevents children from accessing pornography and other inappropriate content online. If the industry fails to comply, the government will impose its own regulations, according to an announcement by the eSafety Commissioner on Tuesday.
The eSafety Commissioner has contacted members of the online industry, requesting a comprehensive plan by October 3. This plan must detail how companies will protect minors from exposure to high-impact material, including themes related to suicide and eating disorders. The proposed code should set standards for app stores, websites (including pornography and dating sites), search engines, social media platforms, chat services, and multi-player gaming platforms to ensure content is suitable for users.
Commissioner Julie Inman Grant emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “Kids’ exposure to violent and extreme pornography is a major concern for many parents and carers, and they have a key role to play. But it can’t all be on them. We also need industry to play their part by putting in some effective barriers.”
This demand marks the beginning of the second phase of industry codes overseen by the regulator. The first phase successfully established codes on how internet companies should prevent the spread of terrorism and child sexual exploitation content.
To protect children from harmful content, the proposed measures could include age verification, default parental controls, and software that blurs or filters unwanted sexual content. A Google spokesperson stated that the company would collaborate closely with the industry on the new code. Similarly, a spokesperson for Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, affirmed their ongoing constructive engagement with the eSafety commissioner.
Representatives from X (formerly Twitter) and Apple’s app store were not immediately available for comment. However, a spokesperson for DIGI, an industry body that includes most large internet companies and worked on the initial round of codes, expressed their willingness to continue engaging with the government and the eSafety commissioner.
The initiative aims to ensure that effective safeguards are in place to protect children from accessing inappropriate content online. The government’s firm stance underscores the importance of industry cooperation in creating a safer digital environment for minors. Failure to comply with the deadline could lead to stricter, government-imposed regulations, highlighting the need for prompt and decisive action by the internet industry.
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