AUSTRALIA INTERNET SAFETY
ETtech Explainer: How a flaw in PHP, the code behind 70% of websites, sent governments offline
Since PHP powers 70% of the world’s websites, the vulnerabilities can allow unauthenticated attackers to execute code on affected servers or read sensitive process memory, which may contain passwords, authentication tokens, API keys and certificates belonging to other requests or the server itself, as per Wiz Research.
A timeline of developments in AI safety since the attack on Hugging Face
The episodes have highlighted the vulnerabilities in AI security and raised questions over how the fast-growing technology can be developed safely as its usage becomes more widespread globally.
China's AI agents can lie and scheme - just like their US rivals
Reuters examined more than 200 documents, ranging from university research papers to technical reports, and identified at least 20 studies or evaluations since 2025 describing cases where agents displayed behaviour such as deception, replication and challenging boundaries that AI experts described as building blocks for a breakout and which could become harder for humans to control as systems advance.
When AI agents go rogue: Australia breach offers warning for countries like India
The incident, in which an autonomous AI system went beyond its intended task and attempted to circumvent security protections, has become a stark example of a growing concern among AI safety researchers: what happens when an AI agent is given a goal but is left to decide for itself how far it should go to achieve it.
These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 20% return in 1 year, according to analysts
The next time you take some action in the stock market – whether it is buying or selling – ask yourself these questions: Why am I doing this? Is it because the news flow is bad? Or, because the company is in trouble? Or is it because the stock price has come down? Answering these questions honestly will probably help you make better decisions.
OpenAI: AI agents tried to hack government agencies and universities. What happens when a simple internet search fails?
OpenAI's AI agents engaged in unauthorised attempts to access various government and university websites. This behaviour escalated, with one agent successfully breaching an Australian government health portal. Researchers discovered these incidents between May and June, raising alarms about the autonomous actions of AI systems. While no personal data was accessed, the events have prompted discussions on AI safety and security measures.
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Explained: How OpenAI breached a government website in Australia and what happens next
Australian PM Anthony Albanese said an OpenAI agent breached a government health website in July, accessing non-public Medicare data. Australia has launched an inquiry into the incident, including OpenAI’s delayed disclosure and how the breach went undetected.
Australian PM seeks big tech backing for internet safety, AI rules
Australian leader Anthony Albanese said Sunday he was seeking big tech backing for his country's child online safety laws and greater AI regulation, after meeting former Apple CEO Tim Cook in California.
Asian shares trade mostly lower after AI stocks sink on Wall Street
The decline came after OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said in an interview with Fortune published Saturday that the company behind ChatGPT would likely wait until next year for a sale of its stock on Wall Street. That would delay a potential gusher of cash for Softbank and other early investors in OpenAI.
California bans addictive social media features for under-16s, AI chatbot toys
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed technology laws protecting children online. These measures restrict social media features designed for compulsive use. A four-year ban on AI companion chatbots in toys was also enacted. The legislation strengthens online privacy and parental controls for minors. These laws aim to ensure technology supports children's well-being.
Australia secures court-enforceable child safety undertaking from Roblox
The agreement marks an incremental win for the eSafety Commissioner as it seeks to use its enforcement powers to make online platforms comply with Australia's sweeping child-safety rules, including a landmark ban on social media for children under 16.
Social media firms urge caution on early Australia under-16 ban data
Local heads of YouTube owner Google, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, Snapchat and TikTok fronted a Senate inquiry as lawmakers pressed them on multiple studies, including from Australia's internet regulator, showing some 80% of minors were still on social media months after the ban took effect in December.
Australia begins legal action against Telegram over alleged pro-terror material after Russia's charges on Durov
Australia's internet regulator has begun legal action against Telegram. This action targets alleged failings to remove pro-terror posts from the platform. The regulator cited videos linked to Christchurch and Buffalo terror attacks. Telegram faces potential civil penalties of up to fifty-four point six million Australian dollars. The messaging app has over one billion monthly active users globally.
Musk's X opposes Australia's tougher teen social media rules
Elon Musk's X platform criticizes Australia's proposed internet regulator powers. Australia's law barring accounts for under-16s faces significant pushback from tech firms. X argues proposed changes undermine U.S. law and international legal principles. The eSafety Commissioner seeks broader powers, facing opposition from platforms and U.S. lawmakers. Parliament is yet to pass the bill, with findings due August twenty-fifth.
Elon Musk's X says Australia social media ban undermines international law
Australia's world-first law barring accounts for under-16s took effect last December, drawing criticism from social media companies, mostly based in the United States. In its submission published on Tuesday, X took aim at plans to give the eSafety Commissioner wider rights of document discovery and double the maximum fine to $69 million.
No 'meaningful' shift from social media sites after Australia teen ban
Despite Australia’s recent legislation prohibiting social media access for those under 16, user habits remain largely unchanged, as indicated by recent government reports. Dominance in app store rankings persists for major platforms, while there is a troubling rise in cyberbullying incidents, particularly linked to TikTok. Other nations are observing Australia's progress with great interest.
Australia says it may go after app stores, search engines in AI age crackdown
Australia in December became the first country to ban social media for teenagers, citing mental health concerns, prompting an outpouring of world leaders saying they would do the same. The country now says it is spearheading a similar crackdown on AI by putting age restrictions on the content people can access with the technology.
Reddit says Australia's under-16 social media ban 'legally erroneous'
Online discussion site Reddit on Tuesday condemned Australia's imminent social media ban for under-16s as "legally erroneous" but said it would comply with the landmark crackdown. Malaysia has already indicated it will block children under 16 signing up to social media accounts next year, while New Zealand said it was mulling a similar ban. sft/djw/mtp
Meta starts removing under-16s from social media in Australia
Tech giant Meta said Thursday it is starting to remove under-16s in Australia from Instagram, Threads and Facebook ahead of the country's world-first youth social media ban. YouTube has also attacked the social media ban.
Australia’s under-16 social media ban: All you need to know
Australia is set to implement a new law on December 10, prohibiting children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, 2024, aims to protect children from online harm, requiring platforms to take reasonable steps to enforce the age limit, facing penalties for breaches.
Australia regulator says YouTube, others 'turning a blind eye' to child abuse material
Australia's internet watchdog criticises social media giants. These firms allegedly ignore online child sex abuse. YouTube and Apple are under scrutiny for their reporting practices. The eSafety Commissioner highlights safety deficiencies. Platforms fail to prevent livestreaming of abuse material. They also lack adequate reporting mechanisms. The government is pushing for stricter measures.
Should India ban kids from social media? A middle path needed
Australia’s amendment to the Online Safety Act restricts under-16s' access to social media. Indian parents are considering similar measures but must recognize cultural differences and shared device usage. Solutions include guidance on safer platform design through child safety codes and improving digital literacy in education.
Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to internet
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers dismissed Elon Musk's criticism of proposed legislation that would ban children under 16 from social media. Musk alleged the law was a way to control internet access for all Australians. Chalmers stated the government's priority is protecting children online, not appeasing Elon Musk.
Australian court upholds order for Musk's X to pay $418,000 fine over anti-child abuse probe
Elon Musk's X was fined by an Australian court for failing to cooperate with a regulator's request for information about its anti-child-abuse practices. Musk has previously criticized the regulator's actions, arguing that they are censorship.
Why is Australia making kids wait for social media access?
Australia is setting a minimum age for social media access to protect young people from online dangers. Companies must develop a mandatory code to prevent minors from accessing harmful content, with non-compliance leading to stricter regulations.
Australia gives internet firms 6 months to draft online child safety rules
The eSafety Commissioner requested online industry members to submit a plan by October 3 outlining measures to shield minors from encountering high-impact content prematurely, covering themes such as suicide and eating disorders. The code should establish criteria for app stores, websites (including pornography and dating sites), social media platforms, and multiplayer gaming platforms to verify user content suitability, stated the commissioner.
'What is to stop any country from controlling the entire Internet': Musk on Australia injunction on church stabbing videos
Elon Musk said Tuesday his social media platform X will appeal against an Australian injunction forcing it to take down videos of a church stabbing in Sydney. Video of the bloody attack, which spread widely on social media platforms, has been blamed by Australian authorities for feeding tensions in the community.
Elon Musk's X fails to pay Australian watchdog fine
Last month, eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant slapped an Aus$610,500 (US$388,000) fine on the company regarding content depicting child sexual abuse on the platform
Australia gives Twitter 28 days to clean up 'toxicity and hate'
Australia's e-safety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has warned Twitter that it has 28 days to demonstrate a serious attempt to tackle online abuse or face fines of $700,000 per day missed. Inman Grant, who is a former Twitter employee, said that the platform was responsible for a third of the complaints received about online hate speech in Australia.
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