E-Safety Commissioner tells big tech to tighten up rules on kids accessing violent videos, porn, content that promotes self-harm, eating disorders

Big tech companies have been warned to tighten rules to prevent kids from watching harmful content like porn, violence, and materials which promote self-harm.

The e-Safety Commissioner has announced an imminent crackdown, forcing big tech to clamp down on restricting children from accessing porn, violent videos, and content which promotes disordered eating a self-harm.

Speaking to the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday, Julie Inman Grant said she will register three industry prepared codes targeting the three content categories, warning that she will enforce “mandatory standards” if the codes do not meet “appropriate community safeguards”.

The codes will apply to all eight sectors of the tech industry, including social media, websites, search engines, app stores, device manufacturers, hosting services, internet providers and other online services like gaming, messaging programs and dating apps.

She said the codes will operate in “lock step” with the social media ban for under 16s, and offer another layer of defence preventing children from accessing harmful material.

“I have informed industry I plan to register the codes covering enterprise hosting services, internet carriage services such as telcos, and other access providers, and search engines,” she said on Tuesday.

“I sought additional safety commitments from industry on the remaining codes, including those dealing with app stores, device manufacturers, social media services and messaging, and

the broader categories of relevant electronic services and designated internet services or the DIS.”

E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant called on all sectors of the tech industry to act on the codes or risk mandatory standards. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

The codes will force operators to create strengthened protections around AI companions like ChatGPT and chat bots, with Ms Inman Grant threatening further action if they don’t go far enough.

“I want to ensure these provide vital and robust protections. Industry confirmed last week they would seek to make some of these changes, and I plan to make my final determination by the end of the month,” she said.

“If I’m not satisfied these industry codes meet appropriate community safeguards, I will move to making mandatory standards.”

Her comments come ahead of the under 16s social media ban coming into force in December 10, with Ms Inman Grant stating she was confident work required to enforce the ban would meet the looming deadline.

Ms Inman Grant has also called for YouTube not to be exempted from the rules, and said any platform claiming it was “absolutely safe” was “spinning words,” adding that her office had called on the platform to remove “illegal, class one and class two content”.

The recommendation was made in writing to Communications Minister Annika Wells last week, who is ultimately responsible for enforcing the code.

Ms Inman Grant called on YouTube to be excluded from the list of exempted platforms once the under-16s social media ban comes into affect. Picture: NewsWire/ Aaron Francis

She added that teachers would still be allowed to show students educational content, and children can still access YouTube, and other social media platforms, when logged out.

“I think what we’re trying to do here is harness the positives and still enable people to engage without the persuasive pull of these algorithms and technologies designed to make social media addictive, or if you’re looking for diet information, to further send information about bulimia and anorexia,” she said.

YouTube has refuted Ms Inman Grant’s comments accusing her of ignoring data which shows the platform’s educational benefits, and says it should be classified as a video streaming platform.

“In 2024 a survey found that a staggering 84 per cent of teachers in Australia use YouTube on at least a monthly basis in the classroom with the same number saying it helps students continue learning outside the classroom as well,” said YouTube Australia and New Zealand’s public policy and government relations senior manager Rachel Lord.

“Today, the eSafety commissioner chose to ignore this data, the decision of the Australian government and other clear evidence from teachers and parents that YouTube is suitable for younger users by recommending the platform’s inclusion in Australia’s social media ban.”

Ms Lord also said the commissioner’s comments “goes against” the governments own commitment, and called on it to ignore Ms Inman Grant’s call.

“We urge the Government to follow through on the public commitment it made to ensure young Australians can continue to access enriching content on YouTube,” she said.

Originally published as E-Safety Commissioner tells big tech to tighten up rules on kids accessing violent videos, porn, content that promotes self-harm, eating disorders