Big tech failing to detect sextortion with Australian cases continuing to rise, new eSafety report shows
Young men are the most likely to report the abuse, which has now been allegedly linked to more than 15 suicides.
Big tech has been accused of failing to detect sextortion with more than 8000 cases of image-based abuse made in Australia across the past year.
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said overwhelmingly young men were being sexually extorted online and warned the “devastating” crime could be just the tip of the iceberg.
She said scammers would trick or coerce young men into sharing nude or intimate content before blackmailing them for money.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In the third and latest transparency report of big tech, Ms Inman Grant found platforms had blind spots in protecting youths online, such as a failure to deploy language analysis tools to detect it.
She said despite having some of the most sophisticated technology in the world, apps failed to identify well-known coercion scripts used by sexual extortion offenders.
“These are some of the most innovative companies on the planet. We would like to see some of this innovation going into the development of new technologies to tackle the worst-of-the-worst online content,” she said.
Ms Inman Grant warned their lack of action was having fatal consequences, telling the ABC on Tuesday that victims often felt their “life is over”.
“They try to make the pay but we know that that can escalate into really terrible psychological and emotional distress,” she said.
“In the worst case scenarios, it’s led to suicides, at one point I was speaking to the Victorian coroner, (and they confirmed) 17 suicides.”
Ms Inman Grant said there were gaps in reporting tools when users tried to speak up, with some services lacking adequate categories and clear, accessible ways for users to report.
Ms Inman Grant said it included services like WhatsApp, iMessage, Discord and Google Messages, while there were challenges of detecting harm in other video environments.
“My investigators continue to see the same kill chains, scripts and images being used across multiple sexual extortion scams, and platforms should be picking this up,” she said.
“Better reporting pathways and faster response times to victim reports are also vital.”
We have removal powers for this content and a 98 per cent success rate in getting it down.
Ms Inman Grant described it as a “growing” issue, with reports of abuse continuing to rise.
In the six months to December 31, eSafety received more than 2000 complaints about sexual extortion.
Young men aged 18 to 24 were the most affected.
“Last fiscal year, we had 8000 reports of image-based abuse, so the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and videos,” she said.
“Half of these were sexual extortion targeting young men, and they’re getting younger, 15 and 16 years old.”
Curtin MP Kate Chaney highlighted in the latest report as proof that the government should fast track their introduction of the upcoming Digital Duty of Care.
The Albanese government has vowed to introduce the Digital Duty of Care in the second half of this year to place the legal onus on tech companies to ensure their platforms are safe.
“A digital duty of care cannot come soon enough. Platforms must be required to take reasonable steps to prevent harm,” Ms Chaney said.
“They have the tools - not addressing sexual exploitation and other harms is a choice to put profit over safety.”
After obtaining the content, criminals will often threaten to expose the images to family, friends or the general public.
Ms Inman Grant said the most important thing was for victims to collect evidence, cut contact with the blackmailer, to not pay them, and to disclose the crime.
“We have removal powers for this content and a 98 per cent success rate in getting it down,” she said.
- If intimate content is shared online you can also report it to eSafety at www.esafety.gov.au/report.
- If you are under 18, you can report to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.
