Tech platforms warned to fix ‘sextortion’ blind spots
Major tech platforms have significant gaps in their response to online sextortion, a new report by Australia’s online safety regulator has found.
eSafety Commissioner accused platforms of failing to address blind spots when detecting abuse; The most common victims turned out to be young men between the ages of 18 and 24.
The online security watchdog received more than 2,000 complaints about sexual blackmail in the second half of 2025.
Instagram and WhatsApp are the platforms most concerned about complaints, with Apple’s iMessage and Snapchat following close behind for users under 18.
Sexual blackmail, also known as sextortion, refers to a form of blackmail in which a person threatens to share a nude or sexual image or video unless the victim complies with his demands.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the report found young teenagers were increasingly being targeted by scammers.
The findings should lead to urgent action for online platforms, he told ABC Radio National on Tuesday.
“I can say that sexual blackmail has reached catastrophic proportions, with Australian boys and young men being ruthlessly targeted every day by organized crime networks,” Ms Inman Grant said. he said.
“These criminals are exploiting these very predictable weaknesses in the platform design.”
The report has revealed significant gaps in the way major online platforms tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation.
He touched upon the difficulties in detecting harm in private messaging and video environments where sexual extortion and live-streamed sexual abuse can flourish.
The watchdog called on tech companies to adopt a comprehensive, multi-layered approach that combines proactive detection tools and accessible reporting systems.
“Criminals continue to exploit loopholes in platform design, weak detection systems and inconsistent security measures to seamlessly move between services and increase harm to children,” Ms Inman Grant said.
”The aim is often to achieve quick financial gain, with perpetrators using high-pressure tactics to force victims to pay.
“Such extortion can cause high levels of stress, panic, psychological distress and financial loss.”
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