Australia: Issued eSafety Commissioner notices to Google, Meta, X, formerly Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Reddit regarding measures addressing terror and violent extremism content

On 19 March 2024, the Australian eSafety Commissioner issued legal notices to Google, Meta, X, formerly Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Reddit, requiring each company to report on measures implemented to protect Australians from terrorist and violent extremist material and activity. This action falls under the Commissioner's enforcement of the Online Safety Act to ensure the safety of user-generated content on online platforms. Under the Act, service providers are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that end‑users are able to use the service in a safe manner and to minimise the extent to which certain material is provided on the service, including cyber‑bullying material, cyber‑abuse material, non‑consensual intimate images of a person, and material related to violent conduct. Further, the Act requires service providers to respond to a removal notice by the eSafety Commissioner within 24 hours.