There has been ferocious discussions in Australia over the past few years about the responsibility big tech organizations need to bear for information on their platforms.
Global tech titans such as Apple as well as Facebook have been demanded to show Australian powers what they are actually doing to prevent child abuse on their platforms or risk daily penalties.
Australia has ordered global technology giants to show what measures they are taking to deal with child abuse on their platforms or face hefty fines, the government reported on Tuesday.
eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has issued notices to Apple; Meta, which is the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook and also Instagram; Microsoft, and its Skype platform; Snap; and Omegle.
The move falls under the Online Safety Act 2021 and demands the companies to reveal just how they are dealing with the proliferation of child sexual exploitation material.
In the case that the companies do not answer within the 28 day timeframe, the companies could very well face penalties of AU$555,000 each day, according to an announcement from the commission. This is the first such demand under the new legislation that was introduced last year.
Further information and details are available at: esafety.gov.au/industry/basic-online-safety-expectations