403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Australia’s Online Safety Chief Says Social Media Ban Triggered Abuse
(MENAFN) Australia’s leading online safety official has said she was subjected to severe online harassment and death threats following the introduction of controversial restrictions aimed at limiting social media access for children under 16.
Julie Inman Grant, head of Australia’s eSafety Commission, stated that the backlash intensified after public debate surrounding the new rules. According to reports, criticism escalated rapidly after Elon Musk publicly referred to her as a “censorship commissar,” leading to a wave of online attacks directed at her.
She said that within a single day, approximately 75,000 online posts targeted her, many of which contained abusive language, threats, and hostile content considered credible enough to raise security concerns.
Speaking during a public forum on gender equality alongside former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Inman Grant said she had also been targeted through doxing, manipulated deepfake material, and gender-based harassment. Referring to threats involving her family, she stated: "My issue is when they dox my children and my family members ... it makes you sit back and go, am I putting my family and my kids in danger, and how do I protect them?"
She warned that women working in regulatory and leadership positions may increasingly require formal security protections similar to those provided to elected officials, arguing that regulators currently lack equivalent safeguards despite facing similar risks.
Despite the pressure and threats, Inman Grant said the experience has reinforced her commitment to enforcing online safety regulations and that intimidation would not prevent her from continuing her work.
The comments come shortly after Australia’s eSafety Commission issued legally binding transparency notices to major gaming platforms, including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam, amid concerns that online gaming environments are being exploited by predators and extremist groups.
Julie Inman Grant, head of Australia’s eSafety Commission, stated that the backlash intensified after public debate surrounding the new rules. According to reports, criticism escalated rapidly after Elon Musk publicly referred to her as a “censorship commissar,” leading to a wave of online attacks directed at her.
She said that within a single day, approximately 75,000 online posts targeted her, many of which contained abusive language, threats, and hostile content considered credible enough to raise security concerns.
Speaking during a public forum on gender equality alongside former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Inman Grant said she had also been targeted through doxing, manipulated deepfake material, and gender-based harassment. Referring to threats involving her family, she stated: "My issue is when they dox my children and my family members ... it makes you sit back and go, am I putting my family and my kids in danger, and how do I protect them?"
She warned that women working in regulatory and leadership positions may increasingly require formal security protections similar to those provided to elected officials, arguing that regulators currently lack equivalent safeguards despite facing similar risks.
Despite the pressure and threats, Inman Grant said the experience has reinforced her commitment to enforcing online safety regulations and that intimidation would not prevent her from continuing her work.
The comments come shortly after Australia’s eSafety Commission issued legally binding transparency notices to major gaming platforms, including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam, amid concerns that online gaming environments are being exploited by predators and extremist groups.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Most popular stories
Market Research
More Story
Comments
No comment