Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia)
The Online Safety Act 2021 establishes a regulatory framework for online safety in Australia, administered by the eSafety Commissioner. It covers cyberbullying, image-based abuse, online content regulation, and industry codes/standards for online safety. Commenced 23 January 2022.
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Framework Domains (6)
Adult Cyber Abuse Scheme
Part 3A — Scheme addressing cyber abuse targeting Australian adults
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-ADULT-1 | Cyber Abuse Material Definition |
| OSA-ADULT-2 | Adult Cyber Abuse Complaints |
| OSA-ADULT-3 | Removal and Remedial Action |
Basic Online Safety Expectations
Part 10 — Expectations for online service providers regarding safety
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-BOSE-1 | Core Expectations for Services |
| OSA-BOSE-2 | Transparency Reporting |
| OSA-BOSE-3 | Proactive Steps Against Harmful Material |
Cyberbullying Scheme for Children
Part 3 — Scheme to address cyberbullying material targeting Australian children
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-CYBER-1 | Cyberbullying Material Definition |
| OSA-CYBER-2 | Complaints to eSafety Commissioner |
| OSA-CYBER-3 | Removal Notice Compliance |
Image-Based Abuse Scheme
Part 4 — Non-consensual sharing of intimate images
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-IMAGE-1 | Intimate Image Definition |
| OSA-IMAGE-2 | Civil Penalty Provision |
| OSA-IMAGE-3 | Removal Notices for Intimate Images |
Industry Codes and Standards
Part 11 — Industry codes and mandatory standards for online safety
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-10 | Industry Standards |
| OSA-9 | Industry Codes (Division 7) |
| OSA-CODES-1 | Industry Code Development |
| OSA-CODES-2 | Mandatory Industry Standards |
| OSA-CODES-3 | Code and Standard Compliance |
Online Content Scheme
Part 9 — Regulation of harmful online content including class 1 and class 2 material
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-CONTENT-1 | Class 1 Material Prohibition |
| OSA-CONTENT-2 | Class 2 Material Restrictions |
| OSA-CONTENT-3 | Removal Notices for Hosting Services |
| OSA-CONTENT-4 | App Distribution Service Notices |
Maps to 429 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia)?
Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia) is a compliance framework from Australia with 6 domains and 21 controls. The Online Safety Act 2021 establishes a regulatory framework for online safety in Australia, administered by the eSafety Commissioner. It covers cyberbullying, image-based abuse, online content regulation, and industry codes/standards for online safety. Commenced 23 January 2022. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia) have?
Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia) has 21 controls organised across 6 domains. The largest domains are Industry Codes and Standards (5 controls), Online Content Scheme (4 controls), Adult Cyber Abuse Scheme (3 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia) map to?
Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia) maps to 429 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are Australia eSafety Commissioner — Online Safety Expectations for Industry (24% coverage), FTC Health Breach Notification Rule (19% coverage), EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) (19% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia) compliance?
Start your Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia) compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia) requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 21 controls and track your progress.
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