( October 26, 2026, 03:08 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: Australia’s online-safety watchdog says rising complaints and limited resources curtailed proactive investigations in 2025–26, as artificial intelligence made image-based abuse, sexual extortion and impersonation easier. Its annual report published Friday records 9,040 image-based abuse complaints, up 37 percent, and 5,721 adult cyber-abuse complaints, up 57 percent, despite the regulator stating that it had met every performance measure. Julie Inman Grant, Australia's eSafety commissioner, urged technology companies to embed safety throughout the AI lifecycle and said five investigations had begun into platforms’ compliance with the under-16 social-media ban.Statement follows. Report attached. ...
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