The eSafety Commissioner was first established in 2015 as the Children's eSafety Commissioner.
eSafety supports individuals and promotes online safety for all Australians. This includes providing information and tools to help manage online safety risks, and administering schemes to tackle severe online abuse targeted at an adult, cyberbullying material targeted at an Australian child, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and harmful online material.
eSafety was the world's first dedicated government organisation established to keep citizens safe online. In 2017, the Australian Government expanded eSafety's remit to pursue online safety for all Australians. This included renaming the organisation the eSafety Commissioner.
In June 2021, Parliament passed the Online Safety Act 2021. The Act consolidated the legislative arrangements for eSafety and established updated schemes to keep Australians safe online, including a new scheme to address severe online abuse of adults. The Act commenced on 23 January 2022.
The eSafety Commissioner Statement of Expectations (SoE) outlines the Australian Government's expectations for the operation and performance of the eSafety Commissioner. The SoE is consistent with regulatory best practice and relevant legislative frameworks, while acknowledging eSafety's statutory independence.
- Visit the eSafety Commissioner's website.