Tech Giants Under Fire as Child Abuse Reports Surge 41% in a Year
Despite growing global scrutiny and regulatory pressure, major technology companies are failing to effectively curb the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on their platforms. A new report from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner reveals that complaints related to online child exploitation have skyrocketed, exposing persistent gaps in digital safety measures.
According to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, approximately 83,000 reports of online child sexual abuse were recorded during the 2024–25 period. This marks a staggering 41% increase compared to the previous year, with the vast majority of cases traced back to mainstream digital platforms. The findings come amid heightened awareness following controversies around AI-generated inappropriate imagery and Australia’s recent ban on social media for children under 16.
Transparency Reports Reveal Mixed Progress
In response to the escalating crisis, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has mandated that major tech firms—including Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Meta—submit transparency reports every six months. The latest batch of reports shows some incremental improvements but also highlights critical security blind spots.
While certain companies have made strides in detecting abusive content—including AI-generated material, live-streamed abuse, online grooming, and sexual extortion—the overall pace of change remains frustratingly slow. Moderation response times have improved in some areas. For instance, Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, reduced its average response time for addressing CSAM from 90 minutes to just 11 minutes. Microsoft also expanded its detection capabilities within Outlook.
Gaps in Live Video and Encrypted Services
However, the report paints a troubling picture of uneven enforcement. Meta and Google are still not monitoring live-streamed abuse on services like Messenger and Google Meet, even though detection tools exist on their other platforms. Apple and Discord similarly lack active detection systems. Apple continues to rely heavily on user reports rather than deploying automated safety technologies.
Several major platforms—including Apple, Discord, Google Chat, Google Meet, Google Messages, Microsoft Teams, and Snap—are not using available software to identify child sexual extortion. The most significant concern revolves around live video and encrypted platforms, where adequate detection tools have yet to be implemented.
New Dashboard Tracks Platform Safety Efforts
Alongside the transparency reports, the eSafety Commissioner has launched a new public dashboard designed to track tech companies’ progress. The dashboard will display which detection technologies each company is using, how much content was removed following user complaints, and the number of employees dedicated to safety-related roles. This initiative aims to hold companies accountable by making their safety practices more visible to the public.
Proactive Safety Measures Urgently Needed
According to the eSafety Commissioner, reporting alone is insufficient. What is required is legislation that compels companies to prove their platforms are safe before launching new products or features. A proposed “Digital Duty of Care” law could mandate that companies identify risks in advance and deploy existing technologies—such as language analysis software and warning messages—to prevent abuse.
The report emphasizes that detection is only part of the solution. Prevention and awareness are equally critical. Warning messages and real-time deterrence systems can significantly reduce abusive behavior. These messages not only block harmful activities but also guide individuals toward seeking help, creating a safer online environment for children.
Profit Over Protection: A Troubling Priority
The eSafety Commissioner has made it clear that children’s online safety should not be optional—it must be a non-negotiable priority. While the technology to combat abuse already exists, many companies are reluctant to fully deploy it, fearing impacts on user growth and profitability. The current reports demonstrate that solutions are available, but the pace of implementation remains far too slow.
The findings underscore a fundamental disconnect: tech companies possess the tools to protect children but continue to prioritize engagement metrics and revenue over safety. As the number of abuse reports climbs year after year, the need for robust, enforceable regulations has never been more urgent. The goal should be to embed safety into the very foundation of every platform, transforming it from an afterthought into a core design principle.
