The eSafety Commissioner has signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ireland’s Coimisiún na Meán to strengthen international cooperation on online safety and platform accountability.
The MOU reflects a shared commitment by both regulators to create a safer digital environment where safety, transparency and responsibility are built in from the start, consistent with Safety by Design principles. It sets out practical areas of cooperation, including research sharing, policy exchange, co-hosted workshops, and support for enforcement and compliance activities within each regulator’s mandate. The agreement also highlights joint priorities such as systemic risk reduction, digital literacy and transparent service standards, aligning efforts to keep children and other vulnerable people safer online.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the collaboration reinforces the growing international cooperation around platform accountability and Safety by Design, not only for digital technologies but also for emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) and other future technologies.
“We all share responsibility for ensuring that safety is built into the digital environment from the ground up and that catastrophic harms are anticipated and prevented by design. Working with our international counterparts allows us to strengthen that foundation globally while respecting each nation’s regulatory framework,” Ms Inman Grant said.
“This agreement reflects Australia and Ireland’s shared commitment to embedding safety into the very architecture of digital products and services, improving platform accountability, and building safer, more rights-respecting online experiences for all.
“Through this MOU, we are championing proactive regulation built on a foundation of international expertise and best practice. Together, we can continue building a digital world that prioritises people over profit, and responsibility over rhetoric. Ireland and Australia are particularly aligned around the protection of minors and the successful implementation of age assurance technologies.”
Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett, who was recently appointed as Chair of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN), said the MOU builds on Ireland’s strong regulatory foundations and supports cooperation on systemic safety challenges.
“Coimisiún na Meán is committed to ensuring a media landscape that the public can trust and one where online platforms are obliged to protect the safety and security of users, particularly children,” Ms Hodnett said.
“We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Australian eSafety Commissioner on areas of common interest, including sharing best practices on online safety.
“This Memorandum of Understanding will help us work towards ensuring a safer and more positive online environment for all our citizens and support wider regulatory cooperation.”
Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for regulating online safety in Ireland as part of its broader mandate for media and digital regulation. In October 2024, it adopted Ireland’s first Online Safety Code, which, alongside the EU’s Digital Services Act, sets clear obligations for online services to reduce children’s exposure to harmful and illegal content.
Australia and Ireland are both founding members of GOSRN, which brings together regulators from around the world to share knowledge, strengthen cooperation, and promote consistent global standards for online safety. The partnership also complements ongoing engagement through the EU/Australia/UK Trilateral Working Group on Online Safety, which focuses on transparency, age assurance, and emerging technology risks.
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