Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                             1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2

3............ Objects of this Act.............................................................................. 2

4............ Simplified outline of this Act.............................................................. 2

5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 5

6............ Cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child..................... 14

7............ Cyber-abuse material targeted at an Australian adult......................... 15

8............ Determining whether material is offensive........................................ 16

9............ Material that depicts abhorrent violent conduct................................. 17

10.......... When material is provided on a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service       17

11.......... When material is posted by an end-user of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service............................................................................................... 17

12.......... When material is removed from a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service    17

13.......... Social media service.......................................................................... 18

13A....... Relevant electronic service................................................................ 19

14.......... Designated internet service................................................................ 19

15.......... Intimate image................................................................................... 20

16.......... Non-consensual intimate image of a person...................................... 21

17.......... Hosting service................................................................................. 22

18.......... On-demand program service............................................................. 22

19.......... Internet service providers.................................................................. 23

20.......... Supply of internet carriage service to the public................................ 24

21.......... Consent............................................................................................. 24

22.......... Crown to be bound........................................................................... 25

23.......... Application of this Act...................................................................... 25

24.......... Convention on the Rights of the Child.............................................. 25

Part 2--eSafety Commissioner                                                                                    26

25.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 26

26.......... eSafety Commissioner...................................................................... 26

27.......... Functions of the Commissioner........................................................ 26

28.......... Powers of the Commissioner............................................................ 28

Part 3--Complaints, objections and investigations                                         29

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                          29

29.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 29

Division 2--Complaints about cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child             30

30.......... Complaints about cyber-bullying material......................................... 30

31.......... Investigation of complaints............................................................... 32

Division 3--Complaints about, and objections to, intimate images   33

32.......... Complaints........................................................................................ 33

33.......... Objection notice................................................................................ 34

34.......... Investigation of complaints............................................................... 36

35.......... Commissioner's response to objection notices.................................. 36

Division 4--Complaints about cyber-abuse material targeted at an Australian adult  37

36.......... Complaints about cyber-abuse material............................................. 37

37.......... Investigation of complaints............................................................... 38

Division 5--Complaints relating to the online content scheme            40

38.......... Complaints about class 1 material or class 2 material........................ 40

39.......... Complaints relating to breach of a service provider rule etc.............. 40

40.......... Complaints relating to breach of an industry code etc....................... 41

41.......... Residency etc. of complainant........................................................... 41

42.......... Commissioner may investigate matters............................................. 41

43.......... Commissioner may refuse to investigate certain matters................... 42

Part 4--Basic online safety expectations                                                                44

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                          44

44.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 44

Division 2--Basic online safety expectations                                                 45

45.......... Basic online safety expectations........................................................ 45

46.......... Core expectations.............................................................................. 45

47.......... Consultation...................................................................................... 47

48.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 48

Division 3--Reporting                                                                                                50

Subdivision A--Periodic reporting about compliance with basic online safety expectations    50

49.......... Periodic reporting notice................................................................... 50

50.......... Compliance with notice..................................................................... 51

51.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 51

52.......... Periodic reporting determination....................................................... 52

53.......... Compliance with determination......................................................... 53

54.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 53

55.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 53

Subdivision B--Non-periodic reporting about compliance with basic online safety expectations            54

56.......... Non-periodic reporting notice........................................................... 54

57.......... Compliance with notice..................................................................... 55

58.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 56

59.......... Non-periodic reporting determination............................................... 56

60.......... Compliance with determination......................................................... 57

61.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 57

62.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 57

Subdivision C--Self-incrimination                                                                      58

63.......... Self-incrimination.............................................................................. 58

Part 5--Cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child          59

64.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 59

65.......... Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service.......................................................................................................... 59

66.......... Removal notice given to a hosting service provider.......................... 60

67.......... Compliance with removal notice....................................................... 61

68.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 62

70.......... End-user notice................................................................................. 62

71.......... Compliance with end-user notice...................................................... 63

72.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 63

73.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 63

Part 6--Non-consensual sharing of intimate images                                      65

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                          65

74.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 65

Division 2--Intimate images must not be posted without consent etc. 66

75.......... Posting an intimate image.................................................................. 66

76.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 67

Division 3--Removal notices                                                                                  68

77.......... Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service.......................................................................................................... 68

78.......... Removal notice given to an end-user................................................. 69

79.......... Removal notice given to a hosting service provider.......................... 70

80.......... Compliance with removal notice....................................................... 71

81.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 71

Division 4--Miscellaneous                                                                                       72

83.......... Remedial direction............................................................................. 72

84.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 72

85.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 72

86.......... Exempt provision of an intimate image............................................. 73

Part 7--Cyber-abuse material targeted at an Australian adult              76

87.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 76

88.......... Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service.......................................................................................................... 76

89.......... Removal notice given to an end-user................................................. 77

90.......... Removal notice given to a hosting service provider.......................... 78

91.......... Compliance with removal notice....................................................... 79

92.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 79

93.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 79

Part 8--Material that depicts abhorrent violent conduct                            81

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                          81

94.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 81

Division 2--Blocking requests                                                                               82

95.......... Blocking request............................................................................... 82

96.......... Duration of blocking request............................................................. 83

97.......... Revocation of blocking request......................................................... 83

98.......... Notification in relation to domain names and URLs.......................... 84

Division 3--Blocking notices                                                                                  85

99.......... Blocking notice................................................................................. 85

100........ Duration of blocking notice............................................................... 86

101........ Revocation of blocking notice........................................................... 86

102........ Notification in relation to domain names and URLs.......................... 87

103........ Compliance with blocking notice...................................................... 87

Division 4--Exempt material                                                                                 88

104........ Exempt material................................................................................. 88

Part 9--Online content scheme                                                                                    90

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                          90

105........ Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 90

106........ Class 1 material................................................................................. 90

107........ Class 2 material................................................................................. 92

108........ Restricted access system................................................................... 95

Division 2--Removal notices relating to class 1 material                       97

109........ Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service.......................................................................................................... 97

110........ Removal notice given to a hosting service provider.......................... 97

111........ Compliance with removal notice....................................................... 98

112........ Formal warning................................................................................. 98

113........ Revocation of removal notice............................................................ 98

113A..... Service provider notifications............................................................ 99

Division 3--Removal notices relating to class 2 material                     100

114........ Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service........................................................................................................ 100

115........ Removal notice given to a hosting service provider........................ 100

116........ Compliance with removal notice..................................................... 101

117........ Formal warning............................................................................... 101

118........ Revocation of removal notice.......................................................... 102

118A..... Service provider notifications.......................................................... 102

Division 4--Remedial notices relating to class 2 material                    103

119........ Remedial notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service........................................................................................................ 103

120........ Remedial notice given to a hosting service provider........................ 103

121........ Compliance with remedial notice..................................................... 104

122........ Formal warning............................................................................... 105

123........ Revocation of remedial notice......................................................... 105

123A..... Service provider notifications.......................................................... 105

Division 5--Link deletion notices                                                                       107

124........ Link deletion notice......................................................................... 107

125........ Compliance with link deletion notice............................................... 108

126........ Formal warning............................................................................... 108

127........ Revocation of link deletion notice................................................... 108

Division 6--App removal notices                                                                       109

128........ App removal notice......................................................................... 109

129........ Compliance with app removal notice............................................... 110

130........ Formal warning............................................................................... 110

131........ Revocation of app removal notice................................................... 110

Division 7--Industry codes and industry standards                                111

Subdivision A--Interpretation                                                                            111

132........ Industry codes................................................................................. 111

133........ Industry standards........................................................................... 111

134........ Online activity................................................................................. 111

135........ Sections of the online industry........................................................ 112

136........ Participants in a section of the online industry................................ 113

Subdivision B--General principles relating to industry codes and industry standards               113

137........ Statement of regulatory policy......................................................... 113

138........ Examples of matters that may be dealt with by industry codes and industry standards            114

139........ Escalation of complaints.................................................................. 117

Subdivision C--Industry codes                                                                           118

140........ Registration of industry codes......................................................... 118

141........ Commissioner may request codes................................................... 119

141A..... Publication of notice where no body or association represents a section of the online industry               120

142........ Replacement of industry codes........................................................ 120

143........ Compliance with industry codes..................................................... 121

144........ Formal warnings--breach of industry codes.................................. 121

Subdivision D--Industry standards                                                                   121

145........ Commissioner may determine an industry standard........................ 121

146........ Compliance with industry standards............................................... 123

147........ Formal warnings--breach of industry standards............................ 124

148........ Public consultation on industry standards....................................... 124

Subdivision E--Register of industry codes and industry standards          125

149........ Commissioner to maintain Register of industry codes and industry standards         125

Subdivision F--Miscellaneous                                                                            125

150........ Industry standards prevail over inconsistent industry codes........... 125

Division 8--Service provider determinations                                              126

151........ Service provider determinations...................................................... 126

152........ Exemptions from service provider determinations.......................... 127

153........ Compliance with service provider rules.......................................... 127

154........ Remedial directions--breach of service provider rules................... 128

155........ Formal warnings--breach of service provider rules....................... 128

Division 9--Federal Court orders                                                                     129

156........ Federal Court may order a person to cease providing a social media service            129

157........ Federal Court may order a person to cease providing a relevant electronic service   129

158........ Federal Court may order a person to cease providing a designated internet service  130

159........ Federal Court may order a person to cease supplying an internet carriage service    131

Division 10--Commissioner may obtain advice from the Classification Board                132

160........ Commissioner may obtain advice from the Classification Board.... 132

Part 10--Enforcement                                                                                                    134

161........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 134

162........ Civil penalty provision.................................................................... 134

163........ Infringement notices........................................................................ 135

164........ Enforceable undertakings................................................................ 136

165........ Injunctions...................................................................................... 138

Part 11--Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner     140

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                        140

166........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 140

Division 2--Appointment of the Commissioner                                          141

167........ Appointment of the Commissioner................................................. 141

168........ Period of appointment for the Commissioner.................................. 141

169........ Acting appointments....................................................................... 141

170........ Application of finance law.............................................................. 142

Division 3--Terms and conditions for the Commissioner                     143

171........ Remuneration and allowances......................................................... 143

172........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 143

173........ Outside employment....................................................................... 143

174........ Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................. 143

175........ Resignation..................................................................................... 144

176........ Termination of appointment............................................................ 144

177........ Other terms and conditions............................................................. 145

Division 4--Other matters                                                                                     146

178........ Supplementary powers.................................................................... 146

179........ Commissioner's liabilities are Commonwealth liabilities................ 146

180........ Commissioner has privileges and immunities of the Crown........... 146

181........ Delegation by the Commissioner to a member of the staff of the ACMA etc.          147

182........ Delegation by the Commissioner to a contractor engaged by the Commissioner      147

183........ Annual report.................................................................................. 149

183A..... Advisory committees...................................................................... 152

184........ Assistance to the Commissioner..................................................... 153

185........ Contractors engaged by the Commissioner..................................... 154

186........ Commissioner not subject to direction by the ACMA etc............... 154

187........ Consultants..................................................................................... 155

188........ Minister may give directions to the Commissioner......................... 155

Part 12--Online Safety Special Account                                                             156

189........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 156

190........ Online Safety Special Account........................................................ 156

191........ Credits to the Account..................................................................... 156

192........ Purposes of the Account................................................................. 157

Part 13--Information-gathering powers                                                             158

193........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 158

194........ Commissioner may obtain end-user identity information or contact details              158

195........ Compliance with notice................................................................... 159

196........ Self-incrimination............................................................................ 159

Part 14--Investigative powers                                                                                    160

197........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 160

198........ Application of this Part................................................................... 160

199........ Notice requiring appearance for examination.................................. 160

200........ Examination on oath or affirmation................................................. 160

201........ Examination to take place in private................................................ 161

202........ Record to be made of examination.................................................. 161

203........ Production of documents for inspection.......................................... 161

204........ Protection of persons giving evidence............................................. 161

205........ Non-compliance with requirement to give evidence........................ 162

Part 15--Disclosure of information                                                                        164

206........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 164

207........ Scope.............................................................................................. 164

208........ Disclosure to Minister..................................................................... 164

209........ Disclosure to Secretary, or APS employees, for advising the Minister 164

210........ Disclosure to a member of the staff of the ACMA etc.................... 164

211........ Disclosure to Royal Commissions.................................................. 165

212........ Disclosure to certain authorities...................................................... 165

213........ Disclosure to teachers or school principals..................................... 166

214........ Disclosure to parents or guardians.................................................. 167

215........ Disclosure with consent.................................................................. 167

216........ Disclosure of publicly available information................................... 167

217........ Disclosure of summaries and statistics............................................ 167

218........ Relationship with Parts 13 and 15 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 168

Part 16--Miscellaneous                                                                                                  169

219........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 169

220........ Review of decisions by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal......... 169

220A..... Internal review of decisions............................................................ 173

221........ Protection from civil proceedings.................................................... 173

222........ Liability for damages....................................................................... 174

223........ Protection from criminal proceedings--Commissioner, Classification Board etc.    175

224........ Referral of matters to law enforcement agencies............................. 176

225........ Deferral of action in order to avoid prejudicing a criminal investigation.. 177

226........ Copies of material........................................................................... 177

227........ Compensation for acquisition of property....................................... 177

228........ Service of notices by electronic means............................................ 178

229........ Service of notices on contact person etc.......................................... 178

230........ Instruments under this Act may provide for matters by reference to other instruments            180

231........ This Act does not limit Schedule 8 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992              181

232........ This Act does not limit the Telecommunications Act 1997.............. 181

233........ Implied freedom of political communication................................... 181

234........ Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws............................ 181

235........ Liability of Australian hosting service providers and internet service providers under State and Territory laws etc......................................................................................................... 181

236........ This Act not to affect performance of State or Territory functions.. 183

237........ Revocation or variation of instruments............................................ 183

238........ Provider of social media service, relevant electronic service, designated internet service or app distribution service........................................................................................................ 183

239........ Extended meaning of use................................................................ 184

239A..... Review of operation of this Act...................................................... 184

240........ Legislative rules.............................................................................. 184

 

 

 

Online Safety Act 2021

No. 76, 2021

 

An Act relating to online safety for Australians, and for other purposes

[Assented to 23 July 2021]

The Parliament of Australia enacts: