According to Australian legislation, the internet regulator eSafety is authorized to impose fines on companies that fail to provide comprehensive information on their strategies for ensuring children’s online safety.
eSafety contacted the entity formerly known as Twitter in February 2023, requesting details on how it was addressing the dissemination of child sexual abuse material.
In March of the same year, Twitter was integrated into Musk’s newly established X Corp, which later received fines for providing “incomplete” answers to the commission’s repeated inquiries.
In October 2024, a federal court determined that X must address the notice, leading to the social media giant being ordered to pay a fine of AU$650,000 (US$464,900) on Thursday.
“A penalty close to the maximum is warranted in this case given the size of the corporation, so that it acts as an effective deterrent rather than merely a cost of doing business,” federal Justice Michael Wheelahan stated.
The Australian government has taken the lead in global initiatives to regulate major tech companies, including the pioneering laws established last year that prohibit individuals under 16 from accessing social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
A number of countries are reportedly considering similar social media regulations, with documents obtained by AFP revealing that Israel, the United Kingdom, Norway, and New Zealand have engaged with Canberra officials after indicating an “interest” in the ban.
“Meaningful transparency is essential for holding technology firms accountable,” eSafety head Julie Inman Grant remarked following Thursday’s federal court decision.
“This is not only a fundamental aspect of our role as Australia’s online safety watchdog, it also provides vital insights to the Australian public about how these companies are managing the most egregious content on their platforms,” she added.
