Story Highlight
– eSafety report finds tech platforms lag in online safety.
– Over 2,000 sexual extortion complaints reported in six months.
– Instagram and WhatsApp most cited in complaints received.
– Significant gaps in detection technologies for child exploitation.
– Experts urge proactive measures to enhance user safety.
Full Story
A recent report from Australia’s eSafety regulator has highlighted “significant gaps” in the measures major tech companies are implementing to combat online sexual extortion and child sexual exploitation. This comes as reports of such abuses continue to increase.
The findings, part of eSafety’s transparency report, scrutinized the actions of prominent technology firms, including Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Snap, Discord, and WhatsApp in relation to child abuse and exploitation. The report noted that between July and December 2025, over 2,000 instances of sexual extortion were reported to eSafety, with men aged 18 to 24 being the most frequent complainants, contributing around 800 of those reports. The regulator also drew attention to the troubling trend of younger teenagers becoming increasingly vulnerable to these threats.
Sexual extortion, or “sextortion,” refers to a form of blackmail wherein an individual is coerced into complying with demands under the threat of their intimate images or videos being shared. Instagram and WhatsApp were identified as the platforms with the highest incidence of such complaints, combining for over 1,300 reports. Among users below the age of 18, Apple’s iMessage and Snapchat emerged as the primary platforms linked to extortion threats.
In the report, victims have received frightening messages from offenders, such as “I have everything to ruin your life” and “only money can help you now to end this peacefully.” eSafety’s analysis has revealed that despite the existence of technology capable of detecting these issues, there are “persistent safety gaps” in both detection and prevention mechanisms for child sexual exploitation online.
The report indicated a “lack of proactive detection tools,” especially concerning live streaming features. Most platforms currently lack adequate systems to identify abuse during video calls and live streams. Microsoft was noted as the sole company that employs both detection technologies mentioned in the report.
Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner, commented that the findings indicate “inadequate responses” from tech companies, despite the availability of necessary technology. She stated, “Offenders are continuing to exploit gaps in platform design, weak detection systems and inconsistent safeguards to move seamlessly between services and escalate harm against children.” Grant emphasized that platforms have the potential to enhance user protection and should take immediate, straightforward measures to address these issues.
Dr. Joanne Gray, an academic at the University of Sydney, expressed her concern regarding the reactive nature of these platforms. She pointed out that while companies may act upon discovering abusive content, they fail to sufficiently prevent the content’s existence in the first place. Gray argued that more emphasis needs to be placed on integrating safeguards into the design of these services. “These technology companies are investing billions of dollars in innovating and creating all sorts of new technologies, and if they want to provide live-streaming services, then they need to do so in a way that is safe and responsible … if they can’t, then don’t allow live streaming,” she remarked.
