Ayodeji Ayenuwa
Australia’s eSafety regulator has taken stern action against tech giants, fining Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) a substantial $610,500 (AUD) for failing to respond to concerns related to child sexual exploitation reports.
Google, too, faced the same issue but received a formal warning due to the less serious nature of their non-compliance
According to eSafety, X was found wanting in its responses to critical questions regarding the platform’s reaction time to child sexual exploitation reports, its methods for identifying such content in livestreams, and the technologies employed for content detection.
The regulator also highlighted the unanswered queries about the number of safety and public policy staff following a corporate acquisition.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant emphasized the seriousness of the global issue of online child sexual exploitation.
She emphasized tech companies’ moral obligation to shield children from these threats, saying, “We really can’t hope to have any accountability from the online industry in tackling this issue without meaningful transparency which is what these notices are designed to surface.”
In a bid to address these concerns, the regulator’s report issued warnings to both Twitter/X and Google. Grant expressed her disappointment, noting, “Twitter/X has stated publicly that tackling child sexual exploitation is the number 1 priority for the company, but it can’t just be empty talk, we need to see words backed up with tangible action.”
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, there is a growing discussion about regulating social media to combat harmful content affecting children.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has engaged with major social media platforms to curb user excesses, with Francisca Aiyetan, Director of Broadcast Monitoring at the NBC, stating, “Young people could be misguided if social media is not regulated.”
As the global conversation on regulating social media gains momentum, these recent actions by the regulator underscore the increasing importance of online safety and the expectation that tech giants will take concrete measures to protect children from exploitation and harm on their platforms
Techrectory with Agency Report.
