Australia Online Safety Act 2021
The Australian Online Safety Act 2021 establishes the eSafety Commissioner as the independent regulator for online safety. The Act creates a complaints-based system for removing harmful online content, with powers to issue removal notices to platforms, hosting services, and internet service providers. Key provisions include the Online Content Scheme (replacing the Broadcasting Services Act schedules), cyber-bullying scheme for children, image-based abuse scheme, and Basic Online Safety Expectations. Applies to online services with an Australian link.
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Framework Domains (22)
Age Assurance
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-10 | Record Keeping and Review |
Algorithms
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-13 | User Empowerment Tools (Category 1) |
Change
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-18 | Communications Offences and Content Moderation |
Content
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-07 | Content Reporting Mechanisms |
Content Regulation
Online content schemes and removal powers
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Sec. 106 | Prohibited Content Take-Down |
| Sec. 107 | Prohibited Content Categories |
| Sec. 108 | Service Provider Obligations for Content |
Crisis
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-09 | Terms of Service Duties |
Encryption
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-14 | Protection of Journalistic and News Publisher Content (Category 1) |
Expectations
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-02 | Illegal Content Risk Assessment |
Industry Code
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-08 | Complaints Procedures |
Industry Codes and Standards
Part 11 — Industry codes and mandatory standards for online safety
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-10 | Record Keeping and Review |
| 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 |
Law Enforcement
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-16 | Reporting CSAM to the NCA |
Operations
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-12 | Transparency Reporting (Category 1, 2A, 2B) |
Part 1 — Preliminary
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| MHR-1 | Objects and Definitions |
| MHR-2 | Application and Scope |
| OSA-1 | Objects and Definitions |
| OSA-2 | Scope of Application |
| POFMA-1.1 | Definitions and Interpretation (Sections 2-3) |
| POFMA-1.2 | Application and Scope (Section 4) |
| Sec. 1 | Short Title and Commencement |
| Sec. 2 | Interpretation |
| Sec. 3 | Scope and Application |
| Sec. 6 | Establishment of the Commission |
Part 10 — Enforcement
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-11 | Senior Manager Accountability |
| OSA-12 | Transparency Reporting (Category 1, 2A, 2B) |
Part 2 — eSafety Commissioner
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-3 | Commissioner Functions |
| OSA-4 | Commissioner Appointment |
Part 3 — Complaints and Investigations
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-5 | Cyber-Bullying (Division 2) |
| OSA-6 | Intimate Images (Division 3) |
| OSA-7 | Cyber Abuse of Adults (Division 4) |
| OSA-8 | Link Deletion and App Removal (Divisions 5–6) |
Records
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-17 | Pornography Providers (Part 5) Age Verification |
Removal
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-04 | Children's Risk Assessment |
| OSA-05 | Illegal Content Safety Duties |
| OSA-06 | Child Safety Duties and Highly Effective Age Assurance |
Reporting
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-03 | Children's Access Assessment |
Scoping
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-01 | Service Categorisation and Scope Assessment |
Transparency
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-15 | Fraudulent Advertising Duties (Category 1 and 2A) |
User Reporting
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| OSA-11 | Senior Manager Accountability |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with Australia Online Safety Act 2021, you already cover:
Maps to 556 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Australia Online Safety Act 2021?
Australia Online Safety Act 2021 is a compliance framework from Australia (eSafety Commissioner) with 22 domains and 44 controls. The Australian Online Safety Act 2021 establishes the eSafety Commissioner as the independent regulator for online safety. The Act creates a complaints-based system for removing harmful online content, with powers to issue removal notices to platforms, hosting services, and internet service providers. Key provisions include the Online Content Scheme (replacing the Broadcasting Services Act schedules), cyber-bullying scheme for children, image-based abuse scheme, and Basic Online Safety Expectations. Applies to online services with an Australian link. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does Australia Online Safety Act 2021 have?
Australia Online Safety Act 2021 has 44 controls organised across 22 domains. The largest domains are Part 1 — Preliminary (10 controls), Industry Codes and Standards (5 controls), Part 3 — Complaints and Investigations (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does Australia Online Safety Act 2021 map to?
Australia Online Safety Act 2021 maps to 556 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are Vietnam Law on Cybersecurity (No. 24/2018/QH14) (15% coverage), FTC Health Breach Notification Rule (15% coverage), NIS2 Directive (15% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with Australia Online Safety Act 2021 compliance?
Start your Australia Online Safety Act 2021 compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Australia Online Safety Act 2021 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 44 controls and track your progress.
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