Australia Flags 2,000 Sextortion Complaints as Tech Platforms Miss Key Detection Tools
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 13
Australia Flags 2,000 Sextortion Complaints as Tech Platforms Miss Key Detection Tools
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 13
Summary
More than 2,000 sexual-extortion complaints reached Australia’s eSafety regulator in July-December 2025, prompting a report that found major platforms still have significant gaps in tackling sextortion and child sexual exploitation.
Instagram and WhatsApp were cited in more than 1,300 complaints combined, while Apple’s iMessage and Snapchat were most commonly linked to threats against users under 18.
eSafety said many services are not using available safeguards, including language analysis to spot coercive scripts, and most lack proactive tools to detect abuse in video calls and live streams.
Microsoft was the only company reporting use of both technologies, as eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said offenders are exploiting weak design and inconsistent safeguards to move between services.
The regulator and outside experts said platforms remain too reactive, arguing companies should build preventive protections into product design rather than rely mainly on takedowns after abuse is reported.
Tech firms have the tools to stop online extortion. Why are they still failing to use them to protect users?
Since age bans and AI moderation are failing, what will it actually take to make the internet safe for kids?
Escalating Sextortion in Australia: 2025 Data, AI Deepfakes, and the Challenge for Tech Platforms
Overview
Sextortion is rapidly becoming a major online threat in Australia, especially for young people. Recent research shows that more than 1 in 10 adolescents aged 16 to 18 have experienced sexual extortion. Offenders use blackmail, threatening to release intimate images or videos unless their demands are met. They create panic by sending urgent and threatening messages, often with countdowns to pressure victims into quick decisions. These tactics make victims feel trapped and afraid, leading to under-reporting. The growing use of such methods highlights the urgent need for better prevention, support, and awareness to protect vulnerable groups.