Australia’s top online safety regulator says she received death threats, doxing attacks, and widespread abuse after the rollout of the country’s controversial social media restrictions for minors.
Julie Inman Grant, who heads the eSafety Commission, said the backlash escalated after new rules were introduced delaying children’s access to social media until the age of 16.
According to reports, the commissioner said that within 24 hours of criticism from Elon Musk—who reportedly described her as a “censorship commissar”—about 75,000 online posts were directed at her.
She said the majority of those messages were toxic, abusive, harmful, or contained plausible death threats.
Speaking at a gender equality forum alongside former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Inman Grant described the severe personal impact of the online harassment campaign.
She said she had been doxed, targeted with deepfake content, and subjected to gender-based abuse.
The commissioner noted that threats involving her children and other family members were particularly alarming.
She said attacks that expose personal information about relatives force public officials to consider whether their work is putting loved ones in danger and how they can best protect them.
Her comments have reignited debate in Australia over the personal risks faced by regulators and public officials tasked with enforcing digital safety laws.
Inman Grant warned that as more women step into regulatory leadership positions, they may increasingly require the same level of formal security protection often provided to elected politicians.
While members of parliament and senior ministers frequently receive government-backed security when threats arise, she said independent regulators often do not have comparable safeguards.
Despite the intimidation, the commissioner said the attacks had strengthened rather than weakened her commitment to enforcing online safety rules.
She emphasized that threats and harassment would not deter her office from pursuing protections for children and vulnerable users.
The controversy comes amid Australia’s aggressive push to regulate major digital platforms and restrict harmful online content.
Last year, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media accounts for users under the age of 16, a move that drew praise from child-safety advocates but criticism from free speech campaigners and some technology firms.
Supporters of the policy argue that social media can negatively affect young people’s mental health, concentration, self-esteem, and development.
Critics, however, question enforceability, privacy implications, and whether age restrictions alone can solve deeper online harms.
The latest backlash also follows recent enforcement actions by the eSafety Commission against gaming and digital entertainment platforms.
Last week, the regulator reportedly issued legally enforceable transparency notices to several major platforms, including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam.
Authorities said the notices were prompted by growing concerns that some online gaming spaces are being exploited by sexual predators, extremist groups, or bad actors seeking to contact minors.
The action reflects a broader shift in regulation where gaming environments are now viewed not just as entertainment products, but also as social spaces requiring stronger child protection measures.
Since Australia introduced its under-16 social media restrictions, several other countries have begun considering similar laws.
Governments in Europe, North America, and Asia are increasingly examining the effects of social media on adolescent mental health, sleep patterns, academic performance, and emotional wellbeing.
Experts say the harassment directed at Inman Grant highlights a wider challenge of the digital age: the people tasked with regulating online abuse often become targets of the same abuse they seek to stop.
Advocates for stronger online protections say intimidation campaigns against regulators can undermine democratic oversight and discourage qualified people from accepting public service roles.
For now, Australia’s online safety chief appears determined to continue her mission despite the threats.
The episode is likely to intensify global conversations not only about children’s internet use, but also about how societies protect those responsible for enforcing digital accountability.
