1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families podcast. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 2: It's the podcast for the time poor parent who just 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 2: once answers. 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: Now a quick content warning before we start today's podcast. 5 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: Some of the material in today's podcast may not be 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,119 Speaker 1: suitable for younger listeners. While not explicit, we will be 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: talking about some particularly challenging things. Therefore, this is your warning. 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: Here's a heads up for what we were discussing. Number one, 9 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about the increasing levels that we 10 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: seem to be seeing of bullying, particularly the kind of 11 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: bullying and catfishing and online issues that have led to 12 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: the untimely and completely avoidable depths of far too many 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: teenagers in Australia this year. Additionally, we'll be talking about 14 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 1: sextortion and what's going on online with teenage boys. My 15 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: guest today on the podcast is Julie In mngrant, Australia's 16 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: E Safety Commissioner. In her role as E Safety Commissioner, 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: Julie in mcgrand is responsible for ensuring ring that all Australians, 18 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: especially our kids, have safer and more positive experiences online. 19 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: Australia is the only nation in the world to have 20 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: a government agency that is dedicated to online safety. As 21 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 1: far as I'm aware, Julie has created a pioneering, innovative 22 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: and citizen focused office, making an impact both here at 23 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: home and globally. She's been a passionate advocate of promoting 24 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: technology for good and has been working at the intersection 25 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: of tech and social policy for more than twenty five years. 26 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 1: She's been dedicated to combating all forms of child sexual 27 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: exploitation online cyber abuse, and has worked tirelessly to promote 28 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: and protect the voices of women, children, and vulnerable communities 29 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: online and more recently, young men as well. Julie Inman Grant. 30 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Happy Families Podcast. 31 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: Let's just keep trying to make those families happier. 32 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: Julie at school, Holidays around the corner for pretty much 33 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: everyone in the country, and kids are invariably going to 34 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: end up on screens a little bit more at this 35 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: time of the year than they would at any other 36 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: time of the year, in spite of the warm weather 37 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: and all that sort of thing, just because well they're 38 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: not at school. There are a couple of things that 39 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: have really been on my mind a lot as I've 40 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: watched the way screens continue to inhabit our kids' lives. 41 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: In the last couple of months, there have been several 42 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: suicides of young children twelve, fourteen, sixteen years of age, 43 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: primarily related to bullying, cyber bullying, catfishing, all sorts of 44 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: things happening online. I wonder if you can just talk 45 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: a little bit about the role of the Safety Commissioner 46 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: and the resources that are available on how parents are 47 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: supposed to respond when their kids are being bullied online 48 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: and they say, we've read about it in the paper. 49 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: Allegedly the families have gone to the schools, they've said, 50 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: we've got a problem here, and for whatever reason, the 51 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: schools are not able to deal with it. The problem 52 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: isn't going away, and in too many cases we've seen 53 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: the loss of life. How do we work through this 54 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: and what role can you play? 55 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: Listen, The loss of life like this, particularly of children 56 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 2: so young, is absolutely devastating, But as you now as 57 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: a trained psychologist, there is always a lot to it. 58 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: It's usually not one factor, but there's no question that 59 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 2: when you may have underlying issues and there's face to 60 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 2: face bullying, if there's cyberbullying on top of that, that's 61 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 2: a hugely compounding factor. And I think that's what makes 62 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,959 Speaker 2: cyberbulling so insidious. It's pervasive and invasive. You know, you're 63 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 2: not just leaving the bullying behind at the school gates. 64 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: It's following these children in their supercomputers in their pockets 65 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 2: into their homes and depending on the rules that you 66 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: have in the household, some kids are taking devices into 67 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: their rooms and maybe on all night and be exposed 68 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: to a constant barrage of bullying. So we've seen children 69 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: much younger since the COVID pandemic getting onto social media 70 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: sites before they're ready. In fact, we just put out 71 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: some youth research showing that eighty four percent of eight 72 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 2: to twelve year olds are online now and that equates 73 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 2: to about one point three million kids in primary school 74 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: years that are that are likely on social media and 75 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 2: messaging apps. So we need to be engaged in our 76 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 2: kids online lives now. E Safety is really unique in 77 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 2: that we offer the world's only government backed cyberbuling service 78 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 2: in the world. So if a child is cyberbully, then 79 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 2: they report to the platform and that doesn't come down. 80 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 2: They can report to us, as can a parent, a 81 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: care or a designated educator or other supervisor. And we 82 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 2: have a ninety percent success rate in terms of getting 83 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 2: that content down. So this is what we see, and 84 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 2: what we know is that online abuse or cyberbuling is 85 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: almost always peer to peer, and it's almost always tied 86 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: to conflict happening within this school gates. So that's where 87 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: that compounding effect happens. Often kids are reluctant to report first, 88 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: to report to a platform because they think that they 89 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 2: won't do anything let alone a government agency, or are 90 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: to talk to a parent because they're afraid of device denial. 91 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: They also don't want to be the dabber or the snitch. 92 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 2: But I would say that particularly when a child is 93 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: being targeted in by multiple people or in really damaging ways, 94 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: the best thing we can do is rapidly remove that content, 95 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 2: and often with the consent of the child or the parent. 96 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 2: We often for underage kids, encourage them to get their 97 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: parents involved. We also involve the school community, and we 98 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: find that once the core of the conflict is removed 99 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 2: and there is visibility around the school community and the 100 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 2: parent community that this bullying has happened, it tends to dissipate. 101 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: And there are lots of complexities there, but again, just 102 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:09,039 Speaker 2: getting the content taken down can provide tremendous relief and 103 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 2: then we often pass. We've got a contractual arrangement with 104 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: Kids Helpline, so where we see kids are really hurting 105 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 2: or may need mental health support, we refer those kids 106 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 2: on Julie. 107 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: What percentage of parents know about a safety commissioner capacity there? 108 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: Do you have any research on that to show the 109 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: extent to which families in the Australian community are aware 110 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: that you are there and have those powers to have 111 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: content removed from these social media sites. 112 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 2: I would say not as many as we want, probably 113 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: closer to the forty percent mark. But this is precisely 114 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 2: why I do podcasts like this, just to let parents 115 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 2: and educators know that we're here to help. In fact, 116 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: I've just written letters to the principles of Shalom College 117 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: and Saint Sabine and Redlands College in Queensland to let 118 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 2: them know. And it feels terrible in a way because 119 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 2: this is our worst case scenario that a cyberbullying incident, 120 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: along with you know, other factors, would escalate to the 121 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 2: point where a child feels that they have no way out. 122 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 2: When we can provide that relief and that support. We 123 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 2: have very good relationships with all of the platforms from 124 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 2: TikTok to Instagram to Snapchat, and I can tell you 125 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 2: that none of them want to see young people being 126 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 2: bullied online. I'd also say there are a couple of 127 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: other concerning trends that we're starting to see, and that 128 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 2: is that young people are becoming much more aggressive and 129 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: being much more persistent and pervasive with their targeting of 130 00:07:54,680 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: other children. We're seeing more fight videos, which is almost 131 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 2: sent as a way to dogs people. We're seeing really 132 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 2: violent use of language by kids as young as fourteen, 133 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 2: threatening rape and death threats. So we've started to use 134 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: what we call our end user notice powers, where we 135 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: do this in conjunction with parents and the school community. 136 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 2: But it's essentially a cease and desist notice that we 137 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 2: send to these kids that say you must take this 138 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: content down, you must write an apology letter to the target, 139 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 2: you must commit that you will not engage in this 140 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 2: kind of behavior again. And the reason we use this 141 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,839 Speaker 2: as a deterrent because we do not want children at 142 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: this age thinking that they can harass, intimidate, threaten, and 143 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 2: humiliate others with total impunity. And I would say there's 144 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:57,359 Speaker 2: some schools that are really excellent and get very engaged, 145 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: and there are some schools that are quite disengaged. There 146 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: was a case where we were very concerned about a 147 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 2: contagion effect of self harm where teenage girls were inciting 148 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 2: other girls to engage in more violent forms of cutting. 149 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 2: Really and the principal at that school refused to become engaged. 150 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 2: They said, oh, this is happening after school hours. These 151 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: are not devices owned by the schools. And I guess 152 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 2: my entreaty two schools would be, these are students in 153 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 2: your school community. If there's a contagion happening within your community, 154 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 2: you have to you have to get involved and take 155 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 2: a stand. We've got a range of tools for educators 156 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 2: as well, what we call the Tools for schools. We 157 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 2: provide virtual classrooms for teachers, professional training for teachers, but 158 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 2: also virtual classrooms for kids. 159 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: Julie, to what extent you think parents are aware that 160 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:00,199 Speaker 1: their kids are saying this sort of stuff. When I 161 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: was a kid, i'd get cranky one of my friends. 162 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: I'd say, oh, you're dead meat, and that was that 163 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:06,319 Speaker 1: was just what we said. I mean, if I heard 164 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: my kids say that, they'd be so cranky. We can't 165 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 1: speak like that and yet when when I was a kid, 166 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: it didn't seem like it was that big of a deal. 167 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: When they're making these kinds of threats, there's really two 168 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: questions here. Number one, do you think that they realize 169 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: just what they're saying in the same way that I 170 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,319 Speaker 1: don't think I really understood what I was saying when 171 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: I said you're dead meat? And number two, do you 172 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: think parents have got any idea what their kids are 173 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 1: doing and saying online? 174 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 2: Whenever our investigators look at the content, we always look 175 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 2: at the context and you know, is this just kind 176 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 2: of grandstanding or you know, I'm you know, I'm going 177 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 2: to kill you? But what we're seeing is much more deliberate, 178 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 2: very concerning targeted specific threats of harm or I'm just 179 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 2: thinking of one where there was a group of kids 180 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 2: that had beaten up another kid and he was unconscious 181 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: and they continued to kick him and they sent that 182 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 2: video around. Is almost an intimidating factor, and these were 183 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 2: young kids that seem to show no or little mercy. 184 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 2: I mean, I have to say sometimes I'm shocked with 185 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 2: the language that's being used. And then there's some really 186 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: deliberate tactics. There's something called phoenixing where one child will 187 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 2: set up to fifty or sixty accounts with the target's name, 188 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 2: and you know, they know that as their abuse gets 189 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 2: reported and comes down, there will be another one that 190 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 2: comes rises up in the ashes, and that the whole 191 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 2: intent is to just put constant pressure on the person. 192 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: So it's a very insidious way of continuing to target 193 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 2: a child. So there is something for it. 194 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: Yeahka, and parents, you got to assume that the parents 195 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: just a completely oblievious to this, that they're simply not 196 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: wandering not where that this is going on. 197 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 2: So yes, and some times, know what's really really interesting 198 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 2: is some parents are absolutely shocked, they have no idea, 199 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 2: and then you have other parents who take a very 200 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 2: defensive position my child would other do or say anything 201 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 2: like that, even when we present them with evidence. You know, 202 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 2: I do think this is where role modeling as a 203 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 2: parent is so important. You know, the language we use 204 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: around the house, the way we talk to each other, 205 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,960 Speaker 2: the way we talk to kids. You know, kids are sponges. 206 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 2: They pick this up and if they're not picking it 207 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 2: up from you, they could be picking it up from 208 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 2: cultural product and their peers. This is why we have 209 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 2: to kind of guide kids along, particularly you know, before 210 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,199 Speaker 2: they reach thirteenage years and they want to be more independent, 211 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,199 Speaker 2: to ensure that we're engaging. As I was just saying 212 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 2: to you justin, I was shocked when I let my 213 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 2: then sixth grade twins use my phone number so that 214 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 2: they could communicate with and it's their peers. To see 215 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 2: some of their peers using the C word and some 216 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 2: other words was really quite confronting to me. And you know, 217 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 2: I ended up talking to some of the parents just saying, 218 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 2: I know you, I'm sure you don't talk like this 219 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 2: around the house, but you need to know that your 220 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 2: child is using this kind of language. 221 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: I want to go back to something that you raised before, 222 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: and that is your powers to have content removed. If 223 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: you've got a child who's being bullied, if you've got 224 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: the evidence of it, if there's a way that a 225 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 1: report can be made to the e Safety Commissioner office 226 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 1: and something can be done there, to what extent can 227 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: you have content removed from? I mean, so WhatsApp for example, 228 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: and Facebook Messenger. These are now encrypted, and therefore, because 229 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: behind that encryption, do you still have powers to get 230 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: in there? Do you have the capacity to get into 231 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: the encrypted spaces. I don't know what other apps off 232 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: of that now, but I'm sure that they're not the 233 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 1: only too. How much can you get in there and 234 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: get that content removed? 235 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 2: Well, that's where we have to actually work with the platforms. Informally. 236 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 2: We don't have specific app removal powers, but what can 237 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 2: be done. And we're seeing more bullying moving from you know, 238 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 2: social media bullying which was really the genesis for the 239 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 2: Online Safety Act in twenty fifteen, when you know kids 240 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 2: were posting to Facebook. 241 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: What we do is. 242 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 2: We ask kids and we show them how to collect 243 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 2: the evidence through a screenshot that there's a specific account 244 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 2: and what the content is. You can screenshot that that 245 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 2: information and report it as bullying. If it contravenes WhatsApp 246 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 2: services or WhatsApps terms of service, we can flag it 247 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 2: up informally for the platform there's a usually a pattern 248 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 2: or a signal that they can pick up and what 249 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: we found. Those that bully some usually bully others. So 250 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 2: there are some cases where the platforms will take action. 251 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 2: As I said, we have the ninety percent success rate 252 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 2: we have is because we work cooperatively with the platforms 253 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 2: and we just point out that this is violating their 254 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 2: terms of service, and a policy is only as good 255 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 2: as its enforcement, and we service that backstop. Now, sometimes 256 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 2: a platform might say we don't agree with you. If 257 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 2: you want this content taken down, send us a formal 258 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 2: removal notice, and we'll do that if we think the 259 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 2: situation warrants it. 260 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: Julie, we bumped into each other a month and a 261 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: half ago at south By Southwest. It's a big conference 262 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 1: was being held in Sydney, and backstage I asked you 263 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: if there was anything that was particularly on your mind. 264 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: You highlighted that the last time we spoke, teenage boys 265 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: and sextortion was your one of your chief concerns, and 266 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: you indicated to me backstage that it hasn't moved. In fact, 267 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: it's only increased in terms of the degree to which 268 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: you're concerned about it. Could you, for those who are 269 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: not familiar with what's going on with teenage boys and sextortion, 270 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: talk a bit about that and specifically this sadistic sexual 271 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: sextortion that is becoming increasingly frequent. 272 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is really concerning. So just to put things 273 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 2: in context, in twenty eighteen, we receive something like four 274 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 2: hundred and thirty two reports of sexual extortion through our 275 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: image based ABUT scheme, we've seen an over thirteen one 276 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: hundred percent increase and had over sixty two hundred reports 277 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 2: in twenty two twenty three and we haven't finished telling 278 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 2: for this year. And so there are two types of 279 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 2: sexual extortion. There's financial sexual extortion that is primarily committed 280 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 2: by overseas criminal gangs. So the same criminal gangs like 281 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 2: the Yahoo boys out of Nigeria who used to send 282 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 2: me you know my the princess was kidnapped or you've 283 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 2: won a lottery that you didn't enter. They've figured out 284 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 2: that young young boys between the ages of sixteen and 285 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 2: twenty four, so young men really are much more responsive 286 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 2: to a attractive blonde Instagram account asking if they want 287 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 2: a sexy chat and taking off their clothes or master 288 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 2: debating for a camera within a usually within an hour 289 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 2: or two. They're that that effective and the minute that happens, 290 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 2: they use a combination of guilt and shame. Often they've 291 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 2: done a lot of research about the target. They will 292 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 2: know by looking at the Instagram followers, who who their 293 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 2: girlfriend is, who their parents are, and they will threaten 294 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 2: to share unless money is given, and often it's not 295 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 2: just cash. It might be through crypto, it might be 296 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 2: through gift cards, and so the whole there's a whole 297 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 2: manifesto for these organized criminals on how to really back 298 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 2: a child into a corner or a young man into 299 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 2: a corner. And the reason they're targeting young men is 300 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 2: they're more likely to have jobs and have means as well, 301 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 2: but their brains are still developing, right, so they might 302 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 2: not be thinking straight, and so they try and back 303 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 2: them into a corner and make them panic. Now, sadistic 304 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 2: sexual extortion tends to happen more to girls, and that 305 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 2: also preys upon fear and leads individuals to kind of 306 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 2: comply with demands and hopes of escaping humiliation. But they 307 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 2: there's a real emotional tool which creates anxiety, depression, a 308 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 2: shattered sense of security. And often this targets young girls, 309 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 2: and they're not always looking for financial reward. But these 310 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 2: might be predators that will look for more explicit kinds 311 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 2: of videos or will command that they do certain things 312 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 2: or be online at certain times. They're are perpetrators of 313 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:07,880 Speaker 2: sadistic six stortion that engage in this prolonged harassment and 314 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 2: use really a sophisticated psychological manipulation techniques to exploit their 315 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 2: victims vulnerabilities. So we've just we just dealt with a 316 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 2: really heartbreaking one of a fourteen year old girl last week. 317 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 2: We had cooperation from the platform so we were able 318 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 2: to intercede and then refer on to the ACE at 319 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 2: the AFP as active grooming. But it's it's amazing when 320 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 2: we are we are able to engage with parents when 321 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:46,159 Speaker 2: the kids are underage, and so my parents say that, oh, 322 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 2: my kids smarter than that, they wouldn't engage in that, 323 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 2: they wouldn't do that. It's it's really amazing how many 324 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 2: young people fall prey to this, and it's it's really 325 00:19:58,320 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 2: really disturbing and distressing. 326 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: Julie. When we did Pardal Guide in season two, we 327 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: got in touch with the Austraian Federal Police and the 328 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: Australian Senator to counter child exploitation and we did this 329 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: thing where the kids got online and we approached them. 330 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 1: We had an actor approach them and try to get 331 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: personal details from them and a range a meet up 332 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: and it was devastating as the parents watched their children 333 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:24,199 Speaker 1: fall prey to this actor, who I mean had no 334 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: ill intent. He was an actor and he was being 335 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: guided by the police to do it, but it was 336 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: it was absolutely, absolutely devastating, just crushing. The hardest part 337 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: of all, though, is that the parents whose children made 338 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: those mistakes said, We've had the talk, we spent time 339 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: with the kids. It's not just that it was a 340 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 1: one off talk. We've had these conversations, and yet kids 341 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,120 Speaker 1: are kids are vulnerable, and they want to be liked, 342 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: and they want to explore, and they're curious. They're just 343 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: so vulnerable. Conversations like the one that we've just had. 344 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 1: In so many ways, it's it's depressing, it's it's concerning. 345 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: It sometimes makes it feel like it's all too hard. 346 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:06,439 Speaker 1: But the reason we have to have these conversations is 347 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: so that parents know that this is a reality for 348 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 1: way too many of our kids, and they need to 349 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:13,959 Speaker 1: know that you've got the resources there to provide them 350 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 1: with the support. There is actually hope and hopefully, hopefully 351 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: if anything, if it does happen, only on they can 352 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: they can go to you. 353 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we've worked really closely with law enforcement agencies 354 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 2: across the country to get up those prevention messages, and 355 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 2: those are really you know, if somebody asks you for 356 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 2: a sexy chat. You know, don't take off your clothes 357 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 2: for anyone you don't know as a real person. But 358 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 2: if you do, it's not your fault. Disclose to someone disclosed, 359 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 2: disclose disclosed. Don't carry this alone. And again that one 360 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 2: of the tactics is to isolate the person. I get 361 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 2: terry when I talk about this, but we we met 362 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 2: with a Victorian coroner and the names of seventeen different 363 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 2: young men who had taken their lives as a result 364 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:08,640 Speaker 2: of image based abuse or extortion. And I read one 365 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 2: of the suicide notes where they said, Mom, Dad, I 366 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 2: messed up, I'm sorry, goodbye. I'm sure every single parent 367 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 2: you ever talked to would just would want of them 368 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 2: to say, I'm just down the hall. I don't care 369 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 2: what you did. If you're in trouble, I'm gonna I'm here, 370 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 2: I'm going to help you. And it just it makes 371 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 2: you feel so sad because these are young adults. And 372 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 2: that's the other thing I worry about is that we 373 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 2: might think, Okay, this young man is eighteen, he's technically adult, 374 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 2: but he may not have the same pastoral care, or 375 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 2: maybe in transition, is no longer in school, maybe in 376 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:54,439 Speaker 2: UNI or at tafe or doing a trade and still 377 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 2: not have really found themselves. And you know, I think 378 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 2: we expect a lot of young adults in terms of 379 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 2: taking on things like this, and I just think we 380 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 2: have to remember that we need to be there for 381 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 2: our kids always. 382 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,200 Speaker 1: Two things as you share that number one. Over the 383 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: last couple of months, I've had a couple of conversations 384 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 1: with parents whose boys have gone to them and said, 385 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: I've made a terrible mistake and things are about to 386 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 1: get really bad. What a gift it is that they've 387 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: been willing to have that conversation. What an absolutely wonderful thing. 388 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: I mean, it still doesn't always work out. Recently on 389 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 1: Channel ten, there was a terrible story about a young 390 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: man who some months after everything had sort of washed over, 391 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: it was still too much for him. But the more 392 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: that we can let our children know that our love 393 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: for them is bigger than anything that they could ever do, 394 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 1: the more LIKELI is that we get good outcomes, just as. 395 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 2: We can get that content taken down and so they 396 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 2: can come to us. We will always provide whatever kind 397 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,239 Speaker 2: of wrap around support we can, you know, and we 398 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 2: also tell people not to pay, because if you pay, 399 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 2: they'll keep coming back and block them and collect the evidence, 400 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 2: and we'll work with the police and we'll do what 401 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 2: we can. You probably will never get your money back, 402 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 2: but we can try and get the imagery down, and 403 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 2: you know, people can leave with their dignity intact because 404 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 2: they're being socially scammed and engineered to the ends. Degree. 405 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's what I was literally about to say. The 406 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: good news is the Safety Commissioner has the powers to 407 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: act on that. And if people, if people just knew 408 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 1: that you were there, which is obviously the purpose of 409 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 1: this conversation, they'd know that there's an opportunity there for 410 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 1: some sort of redemption, for some sort of some sort 411 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: of hope out of it. So a couple of big 412 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: topics Julie bullying, it's not going away, and as you've said, 413 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: in some ways it's becoming even more vindictive and more challenging. 414 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: But you have the powers to act and to help 415 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: kids to be safer. And obviously with the sextortion for 416 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 1: boys and the statistic sexual sextortion for girls, again the 417 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 1: powers are there so that people need anything, they can 418 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: go to the e Safety website and get the support 419 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 1: that they need. For those who are not familiar with 420 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 1: what you do and where to find you. Can you 421 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:08,199 Speaker 1: just give us a couple of quick point is on that. 422 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:12,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, I E Safety dot gov dot EU. Everything is there, 423 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 2: so there's parent guides in multiple languages. You can search 424 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 2: based on apps that your kids may be using. You 425 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 2: can search based on issue, whether it's extortion or cyberbulling, 426 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 2: and reporting abuse is right up top. We take reports 427 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:34,360 Speaker 2: of child sexual abuse, material terrorist content, youth based cyberbulling, 428 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:37,199 Speaker 2: image based abuse, which is the sharing of intemn images 429 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 2: and videos. This includes deep fakes, and then adult cyber abuse. 430 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: And there's so much more we could talk about, but 431 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 1: our time is absolutely will and truly gone. It is 432 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: such an important conversation though, Julian mcgrand AUSTRAI as a 433 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 1: safety commissioner, thank you for being so helpful and so 434 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 1: generous with your time. Thank you what an important conversation. 435 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: If you need support, obviously the e safety dot gov 436 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: dot AU website will be a useful place. But if 437 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: this has stirred up anything else for you, there are 438 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:07,959 Speaker 1: a range of different helplines around, including a Lifeline, Kids Helpline, Parentline, 439 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:13,120 Speaker 1: Men's Healthline, one three YAN and so many others. Please 440 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: please please make sure that you take care of yourself 441 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: and those that you love. The Happy Families podcast is 442 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: produced by Justin Ruland from Bridge Media. If you'd like 443 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,160 Speaker 1: more information about the things we've talked about today, you'll 444 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: find that at the Safety dot gov dot A. You 445 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: will link to that in the show notes, and for 446 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: more about making your family happier, try happy families dot 447 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 1: com dot a