✦ Plain-English Summary

Online Safety Amendment (Broadening Adult Cyber Abuse Protections) Bill 2026

What it does

This bill expands Australia's online safety laws to better protect adults from cyber abuse. It removes the current requirement to prove "serious harm" to mental health and instead focuses on whether abusive material is menacing, harassing, or seriously offensive to a reasonable person in the victim's position.

Why it matters

Adults currently face a high bar to get harmful content removed online—they have to show it caused serious psychological damage. This change makes it easier to take action against cyber bullying, harassment, and abuse without needing medical evidence of mental injury.

Key details

• Removes the "serious harm" test: You no longer need to prove the abuse damaged your mental health; the focus shifts to whether the material itself is menacing, harassing, or seriously offensive
• New standard: A "reasonable person" test—would an ordinary person in your situation find the material seriously offensive?
• Comes into effect immediately: The law applies the day after Parliament approves it
• Applies to social media and messaging services: This covers Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and similar platforms where adults are harassed

Official Description

Amends the Online Safety Act 2021 to lower the threshold for material to be considered by the eSafety Commissioner under the adult cyber abuse scheme.

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