(Photo : Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and X, speaks to reporters as he leaves the “AI Insight Forum” at the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on September 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Lawmakers are seeking input from business leaders in the artificial intelligence sector, and some of their most ardent opponents, for writing legislation governing the rapidly evolving technology.
The Australian online security monitor issued a hefty fine of A$610,500 ($386,000; £317,360) on X, a company owned by Elon Musk.
The penalty comes as a consequence of X's failure to cooperate with an investigation into their anti-child abuse practices, as per BBC News.
Social Platform X Receives Warning for Child Abuse Content
A former Twitter employee and the eSafety Commissioner in Australia has issued a formal warning to Twitter's X, previously known as Twitter, for failing to meet its responsibilities in addressing child abuse material on its platform.
This move is part of Australia's efforts to regulate social media platforms and promote online safety. Under the Online Safety Act, X became the first online platform to be fined.
In February, the eSafety Commission requested details from various online platforms, including X, TikTok, Google, Discord, and Twitch, regarding their measures for detecting and removing child sexual abuse material. X's response could have been more satisfactory, as they left some sections blank and failed to answer critical questions.
One of the concerning aspects was a decrease in proactive detection of child sexual exploitation on X, which fell from 90% to 75% in the three months following Elon Musk's takeover. The commissioner highlighted that while X had publicly stated that tackling child sexual exploitation was its top priority, it needed to turn these words into tangible actions.
This action by Australian authorities serves as a significant step in regulating social media platforms and ensuring that they actively contribute to the safety of online spaces. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of content moderation and child safety measures implemented by these platforms, according to The Star.
Australian Regulator Pushes for Transparency
The eSafety Commission's Commissioner Julie Inman Grant emphasized that it should be relatively straightforward for these platforms to comply with requests for information if they have answers and are actively implementing measures to tackle illegal content.
The lack of responses from X and other platforms is a concern, suggesting they may need to meet their responsibilities and community expectations. X's response to questions about preventing child grooming on its platform was particularly noteworthy.
The social media giant claimed many young people did not use it and that available anti-grooming technology needed to be sufficiently capable and accurate for deployment on Twitter.
In addition to the fine imposed on X, the eSafety Commission warned Google for not fully complying with its request for information regarding handling child abuse content. Google provided what was described as "generic" responses to some of the questions, prompting criticism from the commissioner.
Australia's focus on regulating social media platforms and ensuring online safety underscores the growing importance of addressing issues related to child safety, illegal content, and online abuse.
It is an effort to hold these platforms accountable for their role in maintaining safe online environments, particularly for vulnerable users, and to encourage proactive measures to combat such issues.
X and Google are committed to working with the eSafety Commissioner and the government to enhance online safety. This development is a significant step in promoting online safety and responsible content moderation, reflecting the evolving landscape of online regulations and accountability, DW reported.
Related Article: Conservative Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov Arrested for Openly Carrying Gun to Protest
