Key facts
- eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant faces criticism from Elon Musk and Pauline Hanson.
- The Australian government is considering appointing multiple commissioners due to the regulator's expanding workload.
- Inman Grant's term as eSafety Commissioner concludes in January 2027.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has drawn criticism from notable figures, including Elon Musk, who referred to her as a "censorship commissar," and Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, who called her a "Karen." Hanson made the remark on October 10 at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane, expressing a desire to abolish the regulator. The eSafety Commissioner's role has expanded significantly, with powers to order takedowns of violent material and enforce a ban on social media for those under 16. A proposed digital duty of care is also before parliament. Communications Minister Anika Wells indicated on Thursday that the government is contemplating the appointment of multiple commissioners to manage the growing workload, as Inman Grant's current term is set to end in January 2027.