Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has set a deadline for big tech companies to remove footage of the Bondi stabbing spree within 24 hours. The budget for Australia’s online content regulator has been quadrupled since last year, indicating the government’s commitment to combating violent and harmful content online.
Inman Grant has the power to fine social media platforms if they allow objectionable content to be published. She specifically mentioned material that features “gratuitous or offensive violence with a high degree of impact or detail.” This directive applies to both the Bondi Westfield shopping center massacre and the Sydney church stabbing, which was live-streamed and has been circulating online.
The eSafety commissioner expects social media companies to act swiftly in removing such content, as every minute counts in preventing its spread. Inman Grant emphasized the need to curb the velocity and virality of violent content shared on these platforms. While most mainstream social media platforms have cooperated with the eSafety Commissioner’s office, she expressed dissatisfaction with their efforts in protecting Australians from extreme and gratuitous violent material.
Inman Grant has already issued a notice to X Corp and plans to send a similar communication to Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram. She hinted that other platforms are also on her radar. If social media companies fail to remove the content, the eSafety Commissioner’s office can take legal action or issue fines. In extreme cases, search engines like Google and Bing may be involved to minimize Australians’ exposure to harmful content.
When asked about messaging apps, the Commissioner’s office stated that it expects encrypted platforms to take reasonable steps under the Online Safety Act to suppress the availability of objectionable content. In March, transparency notices were issued to various social media companies regarding terrorist and violent extremist content. The goal is to identify the technologies, people, and processes used to detect and tackle distressing content before it goes viral.
Meta has confirmed that it has been removing uploads related to the Bondi stabbing spree and has added the material to its database to prevent future uploads. TikTok also activated its trust and safety procedures within 30 minutes of the news breaking. However, X Corp has yet to respond publicly to the notice and is facing legal battles with the Australian government over content removal.
In addition to these actions, the Australian government plans to introduce legislation later this year that will require social media companies to strengthen their policies on false, misleading, or deceptive content that can cause serious harm. The introduction of this law was delayed due to concerns about its impact on free speech and religious speech protection.
To support the eSafety Commissioner’s efforts, the annual base funding for her office will rise by $132.1 million over four years. This increase is crucial for the regulator to effectively carry out its duties and ensure online safety.
In conclusion, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is taking a strong stance against violent and harmful content circulating on social media platforms. The deadline set for big tech companies to remove footage of the Bondi stabbing spree reflects the government’s commitment to protecting Australians from extreme and gratuitous material. With increased funding and planned legislation, the eSafety Commissioner’s office is determined to enforce stricter policies and hold social media companies accountable for their content.
