Australia's eSafety watchdog lacks power to stop US execution stream
Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 12 Oct, 22:31 · Archive
Australia's online safety regulator says it cannot proactively prevent a livestreamed US execution from reaching Australian viewers.
Australia's online safety regulator has admitted it cannot proactively prevent a US execution from being livestreamed to Australian viewers. An eSafety spokesperson said on Tuesday that while the watchdog lacks powers to prevent a livestream from occurring, online services have responsibilities under Australia's online safety regulatory framework to protect users from harmful material. The regulator said it is in regular contact with platforms and will monitor the situation, taking action as appropriate.
The admission follows pressure from the Albanese government, which said Australians 'rightly expect that the content won't appear on their screens or in their teenagers' feeds'. A government spokesperson said 'vision of an execution being livestreamed here would be deeply distressing to many Australians' and that 'no one should be confronted with it, particularly younger Australians'. They noted that Australia has a 'longstanding bipartisan position' opposing the death penalty in all circumstances.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced last week that former Army officer Nidal Hasan, who shot 13 soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, will face execution by firing squad on 3 December. Hegseth said officials would 'make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public, because people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things'. While President Trump has not fully committed to broadcasting the execution, he has backed the idea. It would be the first broadcast execution in US history.
How it is being reported
- 'Disgusting' livestream of execution likely to proceedPoliticians want the livestreaming of a US execution banned in Australia, but the eSafety commissioner says she doesn't have the powers to do so.Perth Now · 12 Oct, 23:10
- 'Disgusting' livestream of execution likely to proceedPoliticians want the livestreaming of a US execution banned in Australia, but the eSafety commissioner says she doesn't have the powers to do so.The West Australian · 12 Oct, 23:10
- eSafety lacks powers to ‘proactively’ stop US execution livestreamThe online safety watchdog has made a stunning admission about its power as pressure mounts on it to stop younger Australians from streaming a public execution in the US.The West Australian · 12 Oct, 22:24
- eSafety lacks powers to ‘proactively’ stop US execution livestreamThe online safety watchdog has made a stunning admission about its power as pressure mounts on it to stop younger Australians from streaming a public execution in the US.Perth Now · 12 Oct, 22:24
In this story: Australia · Nidal Hasan · Pete Hegseth · Donald Trump · eSafety · Fort Hood · United States
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