Australia’s top online safety regulator has revealed she has been subjected to death threats and widespread online abuse following the implementation of a controversial social media ban, according to reports cited by Anadolu Agency and SBS News.
Julie Inman Grant, head of Australia’s eSafety Commission, said the harassment escalated after the government introduced rules restricting access to social media for children under the age of 16.
She added that the situation intensified after criticism from Elon Musk, who described her as a “censorship commissar”. Within 24 hours of the backlash, she said around 75,000 online posts were directed at her, with many containing abusive content and credible death threats.
Speaking at a gender equality forum alongside former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Grant said she had also been doxxed, targeted with deepfake material and subjected to gender-based harassment.
She expressed concern over threats extending to her family, saying it raised serious questions about personal safety and protection measures for public officials.
Grant also warned that women in regulatory and leadership positions are increasingly facing similar risks to elected officials, and may require formal security protection, which is currently not standard for regulators.
Despite the threats, she said the attacks have strengthened her commitment to enforcing online safety regulations, stressing that intimidation would not deter her work.
Her comments come as Australia’s eSafety Commission recently issued legally enforceable transparency notices to major online gaming platforms, including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite and Steam, amid concerns about exploitation by predators and extremist groups.
Australia last year became the first country in the world to implement a ban on social media accounts for users under 16, a move that has since influenced similar policy discussions in other countries regarding youth mental health and online safety.
