Australia fines X $465K for failing to disclose online safety steps
Australia's Federal Court fined X Corp. $465,000 for not disclosing online safety measures to regulators.
Why it matters: Legal teams and compliance leaders face growing pressure as courts globally demand transparency from major tech platforms regarding user protection. The decision sets a precedent for regulatory expectations around disclosure and response timelines.
- X Corp. (formerly Twitter) was fined 650,000 AUD (~$465,000 USD) for noncompliance with a transparency notice.
- The court also ordered X to pay 100,000 AUD (~$71,000 USD) in legal costs to the eSafety Commissioner.
- Legal proceedings lasted three years, with X arguing it had no obligation to respond.
- The fine is tied to X's failure to detail steps against child sexual exploitation by a March 2023 deadline.
On May 21, 2026, Australia's Federal Court fined X Corp. (formerly Twitter) 650,000 Australian dollars (about $465,000 USD) for not providing required disclosures about its efforts to combat child sexual exploitation content.
- The ruling follows a three-year legal dispute with the eSafety Commissioner, an independent regulator enforcing Australia's Online Safety Act 2021.
- In February 2023, the eSafety Commissioner issued a transparency notice to Twitter Inc.—which merged with X Corp. the following month—seeking details about measures to tackle abusive content. X Corp. failed to provide a full response by the March 29, 2023 deadline, later admitting that it had breached the Act.
- The court also required X to pay an additional 100,000 AUD (~$71,000 USD) to cover the eSafety Commissioner’s legal fees.
The case highlights how regulators worldwide are using legal tools to pressure technology firms for more transparency and faster responses related to online harm mitigation.
A spokesperson for the eSafety Commissioner noted, “In early 2023, we asked some of the world's biggest technology companies, including Twitter, to report on steps they were taking to comply with the Australian Basic Online Safety Expectations in relation to the proliferation of child sexual [exploitation content].”
This ruling affirms regulator authority and signals elevated compliance risks for global social media operators.
By the numbers:
- 650,000 AUD (~$465,000 USD) — fine imposed on X Corp.
- 100,000 AUD (~$71,000 USD) — additional legal costs ordered by the court.
- 3 years — duration of the legal proceedings.