Julie Inman Grant says online safety regulators can still work with the US despite ties between Elon Musk and Trump administration

Despite copping criticism from Elon Musk, Australia’s eSafety commissioner won’t be deterred as she finds ways to work with the incoming Trump administration.

Australia’s online safety tsar says she will continue holding social media giants to account “without fear or favour” and find ways to work with the US, despite the close ties between incoming President Donald Trump and billionaire tech titan Elon Musk.

Esafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who was repeatedly criticised by Mr Musk this year for attempting to force his social media platform X to remove harmful violent content, has conceded there is “trepidation” among regulators about how the Trump administration will impact global online safety efforts, but insisted Australia would not be deterred.

Australian eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant says online regulators can still work with US under President Donald Trump. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“We do have the respect of the technology industry, and we continue to engage with them with both carrot and stick,” she said.

“On the diplomatic side and government-to-government, that will be an issue obviously for Ambassador (Kevin) Rudd and for the Albanese Government with the Trump Administration.

“But I think the Prime Minister has also been very clear that he expects that social media companies will have social responsibility and will require a social license to operate here, and they need to respect and abide by our laws.”

In an exclusive interview, Ms Inman Grant said Australia had a historic alliance with the US and she was “sure” the two nations “can work through differences”.

President-elect Donald Trump, billionaire X owner Elon Musk and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Picture: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP

Ms Inman Grant, who spent the last weeks of 2024 first in Europe meeting with her counterparts and then in Washington DC where she met with Homeland Security officials, US tech companies and other experts, said global esafety efforts had come “leaps and bounds” since Australia was the only country with an online safety regulator “writing the playbook as we went along” less than a decade ago.

“It’s remarkable that we went from one in 2015 ... to having about 30 in the world right now,” she said.

Ms Inman Grant said there was a lot of “trepidation” among online safety agencies about what the “new guard will bring in Washington DC in terms of regulation”.

But she said there remained great interest in Australia’s advances across a range of issues, including the recently legislated ban on social media for users aged 16 and an under, which will come into effect in 2026.

Elon Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy have been appointed by Donald Trump to head a government efficiency commission. Picture: Roberto Schmidt/AFP

“Everybody I met in Washington DC wanted to know what (the social media age restriction bill) was and how it worked and how we would implement it,” she said.

“I think that was seen as quite a bold and decisive move by the Albanese Government.”

Ms Inman Grant said she participated in a “productive” two-day workshop with Homeland Security officials tackling the issue of child sexual abuse material spreading online.

“I think that suggests, not only can we partner with other departments in the United States, we have convening power,” she said.

“I am proud, I do think we’re leading the way, we’re finding a way through on really contentious and difficult issues. I think we’re moving early, we’re learning as we go along, and we’ll continue to improve.”

Earlier this year Mr Musk criticised Ms Inman Grant in several posts on X, calling her the “Australian Censorship Commissar” after the eSafety Commission tried to force his platform to remove video of a violent stabbing incident in a Sydney church that was being investigated as a terror attack.

Ms Inman Grant later revealed she had received “credible death threats” in the wake of Mr Musk’s comments.