UNICEF Australia has warned that inconsistent action by technology companies is leaving children exposed to online sexual exploitation, following the release of the eSafety Commissioner’s latest transparency report on Basic Online Safety Expectations.
Responding to the report, UNICEF Australia said the findings highlight ongoing shortcomings in how major platforms are addressing the most serious forms of online harm, including child sexual abuse material and the rise of AI-generated sexualised imagery such as deepfakes.
John Livingstone, UNICEF Australia’s head of digital policy, said the report shows that while many technology companies possess the technical capability to better protect children, their efforts remain fragmented.
“What we’re seeing is a patchwork of approaches rather than a consistent standard of protection,” Livingstone said. “From UNICEF’s work globally, we know that people who intend to harm children will exploit any inconsistency they find.”
UNICEF Australia said child safety must be embedded into digital products and services from the outset, rather than treated as an afterthought. Livingstone called for stronger safety-by-design requirements and guardrails to prevent the misuse of platforms and emerging technologies.
Central to that approach, he said, is the introduction of a legislated duty of care for technology companies operating in Australia, requiring platforms to proactively address risks to children.
“Protecting children from online sexual exploitation and abuse should be built in from the start,” Livingstone said. “A clear duty of care would help ensure safety is a foundational requirement, not an optional extra.”
UNICEF Australia also highlighted the dual role of artificial intelligence in shaping online risk. While AI is creating new threats, particularly through the generation of synthetic sexualised content, the organisation said it can also form part of the solution if deployed responsibly.
“Used well, AI can help detect and remove abuse and deepfakes at scale,” Livingstone said. “With the right safeguards, Australia has an opportunity to become the safest place in the world for children to go online.”
The eSafety Commissioner’s report assesses how major digital platforms are meeting their obligations to reduce online harms, and comes amid growing scrutiny of the role technology companies play in preventing child sexual exploitation and abuse in digital environments.