Apple and Microsoft, two of the largest tech companies in the world, are not doing their share to prevent online child exploitation by failing to aggressively monitor their platforms for such content.
According to a study published by Australia’s eSafety commissioner, while some businesses had systems in place to detect the sexually expoitative material, others did not.
The responses in the report were utilised to improve safety standards across the industry.
Despite Microsoft’s development of PhotoDNA recognition technology, which is used globally to detect child sexual abuse photographs and films, both Apple and Microsoft have affirmed they do not attempt to screen for material stored in their systems.
The tech giants also claimed that they make no effort to prevent the live-streaming of child abuse on Skype, Microsoft Teams or FaceTime.
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Companies’ response times to user accusations of child exploitation on their platforms varied widely, the survey found.
Snapchat’s parent firm, for example, often answered within four minutes, while Microsoft took two days on average.
In August, the commision issued transparency letters to the corporations for the first time under the new, stricter online safety regulations, and the resulting disclosures were made public.
Apple, Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram), WhatsApp, Microsoft and Skype were among the recipients.
A Microsoft spokeswoman stated that the business has always been dedicated to stopping the “horrific crime” of child sexual exploitation that occurs online.
“As threats to children’s safety continue to evolve and bad actors become more sophisticated in their tactics, we continue to challenge ourselves to adapt our response and welcome engagement with external stakeholders that can help us improve,” the spokeswoman said.
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The spokeswoman pointed out that Microsoft’s open-source PhotoDNA was still the best method available for finding this kind of content on the web.
According to eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant, “sunlight was the best disinfectant,” and requiring businesses to provide information about their safety practises would set an industry-wide benchmark.
Grant said, “It is unacceptable that tech giants with long-term knowledge of extensive child sexual exploitation, access to existing technical tools and significant resources are not doing everything they can to stamp this out on their platforms.
“We don’t need platitudes, we need to see more meaningful action.”
Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland claimed that the government is working to protect Australians online and end child exploitation.
“I expect industry to work co-operatively with the eSafety commissioner to boost protections for Australians online, particularly our most vulnerable,” Rowland said.
Jaw de Guzman is the content producer for Comms Room, a knowledge platform and website aimed at assisting the communications industry and its professionals.
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