n a significant move to combat child sexual exploitation and other serious online harms, the Albanese Government has reinforced its commitment by enhancing the collaboration between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the eSafety Commissioner. The updated 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between these agencies aims to bolster efforts against sexual extortion and the dissemination of terrorist and violent extremist materials.
The revised MoU focuses on improving the flow of information between the AFP and eSafety, thus optimizing the response to these critical issues. A pivotal aspect of this collaboration is the enhanced capacity for eSafety to alert international law enforcement bodies, including INTERPOL and INHOPE—the International Association of Internet Hotline Providers—about child sexual abuse material (CSAM). INHOPE plays a crucial role in offering the public an anonymous avenue to report illegal online content.
Key enhancements of the MoU include:
Improved two-way information sharing to bolster the reporting and investigation of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
An expanded role for the eSafety Commissioner in aiding the identification of victims and perpetrators.
Defined procedures for reporting online grooming and child abuse offenses in Australia directly to the AFP.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy that includes new agreements with state police forces, such as South Australia Police, and updates to existing protocols with NSW and Queensland Police. These agreements extend cooperation to address a range of online issues from cyberbullying to image-based abuse and other illegal or harmful content.
The updates also aim to enhance responses to online crisis situations, like the terrorist attack in Christchurch and recent incidents in Wakeley.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland have both praised the renewed efforts. Dreyfus highlighted the government's commitment to eradicating child sexual abuse online, while Rowland emphasized the ongoing work needed to combat these heinous crimes against vulnerable groups.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant also underscored the importance of this collaboration. Kershaw focused on the partnership's role in addressing online threats to young people, and Inman Grant noted the synergy between eSafety's civil actions and the law enforcement capabilities of the police, which together aim to enhance safety for Australians both online and offline.
