eSafety Commissioner Issues Guidelines on Harmful Content Online in Wake of Stabbing Attacks

This photo taken on Feb. 12, 2023, in Brussels shows reflexions on a smartphone screen of logos of online platforms google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, Apple store, and TikTok. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images

The eSafety Commissioner in Australia has unveiled guidelines on dealing with harmful content online in the aftermath of recent consecutive stabbing attacks.

A bishop in south-west Sydney was stabbed during a church service in Sydney’s south west on April 15. At least two police offices have been injured. The incident has been declared a “terrorist act.”

This follows a knife-wielding man, Joel Cauchi, killing six people and multiple others, at the Bondi Junction on April 13 in a non-terrorism related incident.

Following the Bondi attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reflected on misinformation online in several media interviews.

In a post to X, the eSafety Commissioner noted online spaces should be safe for everyone. The post recommended Australians “report online harm” if harmful material is not removed or is seriously harmful.

“Following the events of the last several days, you may come across online content that is distressing,” the post said.

“If you see violent, distressing or harmful material, do not share it further. Your actions could protect you and others from seeing that content again.”

The eSafety website notes that under Australian law, the authority can issue a “takedown notice” to an online platform or service to remove harmful online material or protect Australian users from seeing this content.

“This include content that shows, describes, promotes, incites or instructs people in violent crimes including terrorist acts, kidnapping with violence or threats of violence, murder, attempted murder, rape, torture, suicide, sexual exploitation of children,” the site states.

“If you see this type of content posted in a public place online, don’t share it - even if your intention is to help, or raise awareness. Sharing this content may cause distress to others and you may be committing a crime.”

Prime Minister Concerned About Misinformation Online

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has raised concerns about misinformation on social media on April 13.

The prime minister labelled social media a “scourge” following the Bondi stabbing incident and mentioned “misinformation” in multiple media interviews.

He also expressed concerns that social media companies are allowing the content to circulate online following the incident.

Responding to questioning on the role of the government regulating social media following the attack, Mr. Albanese said it was hard to control.

“I wish it was that easy. The thing about social media, of course, is that everyone is a publisher and it is very difficult to control these things,” Mr. Albanese told ABC radio Sydney.

“It is a scourge in many ways, social media. The lack of responsibility, it must be said, as well of some of the social media operators that we know about allowing content to be circulated which is clearly misinformation.”

“The police were very clear if people had videos and photos, they should be forwarded to the police, not posted on X or Facebook.”