eSafety and OAIC Formalise Joint Approach to Online Privacy and Safety
The eSafety Commissioner and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen how the two agencies work together on issues where privacy and online safety intersect.
The agreement formalises cooperation between the two regulators and reflects a growing need for joined-up oversight as digital harms become more complex. While the agencies have worked together previously, this MoU establishes clearer communication pathways, reduces duplication and creates a stronger framework for responding to emerging online risks.
The partnership is particularly significant as Australia moves deeper into regulating age assurance technologies and enforcing the Social Media Minimum Age obligation. These measures are designed to protect children from harmful or age-inappropriate content, but they also raise important questions about how personal information is collected, verified and protected in the process. The new agreement aims to ensure privacy protections and online safety obligations are addressed side by side, rather than in isolation.
The MoU also comes at a critical time for organisations navigating the growing influence of artificial intelligence, platform accountability and digital identity controls. As technologies evolve, regulators are increasingly focused on how safety measures can be implemented without compromising privacy rights, particularly where biometric data, age checks and automated systems are involved.
For records and information management professionals, the announcement is another clear signal that privacy, governance and digital safety can no longer be managed in silos. As regulatory expectations tighten, organisations will need stronger coordination across privacy, compliance, information governance and technology functions to ensure systems are both safe and defensible.
The new MoU reinforces a simple but important message: protecting Australians online will require privacy and safety to work hand in hand.