Lead

Australia's internet safety regulator, eSafety, has released a transparency report identifying "significant gaps" in how major technology companies, including Apple, Meta, and Google, address online child sexual exploitation and the growing threat of sexual extortion. The report, based on mandatory safety reporting from platforms, found that between July and December 2025, more than 2,000 complaints of sexual extortion were made to eSafety, with young men aged 18 to 24 the most common victims.

Coverage comparison

The report has drawn critical coverage from ABC Australia, Dawn, and The Guardian — World, all of which highlighted the regulator's findings that tech companies are failing to adequately detect and prevent online abuse. ABC Australia emphasized the "blind spots" in platform responses, while Dawn noted that technology to better detect livestreamed child sexual abuse exists but is not being consistently deployed. The Guardian — World added that Instagram and WhatsApp were the most frequently cited platforms in complaints, and quoted experts criticizing tech companies for taking a reactive approach to online harms.

All three outlets quoted eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who expressed deep concern about the "devastating impact" of sexual extortion and said the watchdog has not seen adequate responses from tech companies despite the technology being readily available.

Key claims

  • Over 2,000 complaints in six months: Between July and December 2025, eSafety received more than 2,000 complaints about sexual extortion, a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share intimate images unless the victim pays or complies.
  • Young men most affected: Men aged 18 to 24 made the most complaints of any cohort, accounting for about 800 reports, according to The Guardian — World. eSafety also detected an increase in younger teens being targeted, making the crime a form of child sexual exploitation and abuse, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • Most cited platforms: Instagram and WhatsApp were the most frequently cited platforms, appearing in more than 1,300 complaints combined, according to The Guardian — World. For users under 18, Apple's iMessage and Snapchat were most commonly linked to threats. First contact often occurred on Tinder, followed by Instagram, Grindr, TikTok and Telegram, as detailed by ABC Australia.
  • Detection technology gaps: eSafety said the findings revealed "serious gaps" in the use of available detection technologies such as language analysis that can identify known coercion scripts used by sexual extortion offenders. The report also found a "lack of proactive detection tools" in live streaming features, with most platforms lacking mechanisms to identify abuse in video calls.
  • Regulator's stance: Inman Grant said the watchdog is "deeply concerned" about the devastating impact of sexual extortion. She noted that eSafety had provided platforms with evidence of how their services are being used by criminals, with clear guidance on how to stem the abuse, but said, "We haven't seen adequate responses, despite the technology being readily available."

Perspectives

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant: The regulator has repeatedly provided tech companies with evidence and guidance, yet the responses have been inadequate. Inman Grant emphasized that the technology to detect abuse exists and is readily available, but platforms are not deploying it consistently.

Critics and experts: The Guardian — World quoted experts who criticize tech companies for taking a reactive rather than proactive approach to addressing online harms, pointing to the persistent gaps in detection and prevention.

Tech companies (no comment): The report mentioned that Google, Meta, Snap, Microsoft, and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving their side of the story absent in the coverage analyzed.