School's reporting on "sexualised chatbots"
Dear eSafety Commissioner,
On the ABC's 7:30 show on the 8th Sept 2025 you mentioned that Australian schools have been reporting that 10- and 11-year-old children are spending up to six hours per day on AI companions, "most of them sexualised chatbots", as quoted here https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/c....
Under the provisions outlined in the Freedom of Information Act of 1982 I am requesting the source(s) of this information, be that documents, emails or other.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Walkom
OFFICIAL
Dear Applicant
I am writing to acknowledge your request under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) received on 9 September 2025.
Unless you request otherwise, we will redact the names and personal
information of public servants on relevance grounds pursuant to section 22
of the FOI Act. We will also proceed on the basis that you do not require
duplicates or drafts of material in scope.
The FOI Act allows 30 days for processing your request. This period may be
extended for charges and third-party consultation. We will let you know if
this occurs.
We will contact you at the email address above unless you advise
otherwise. Any documents released to you as part of this decision will be
published on our disclosure log unless one of the relevant exceptions
apply. Further information about the FOI Act, including eSafety’s
publication obligations, is available on our website at
[1]https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/corp....
Kind regards
FOI Coordinator
[2]eSafety logo Email-Signautre
[3]Email-Footers icons3[4]esafety.gov.au
[5]Email-Footers iconsT[6]Email-Footers iconsF[7]Email-Footers iconsL
eSafety acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.
We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and
to Elders past, present and emerging.
OFFICIAL
Dear Applicant
Please find attached correspondence regarding your freedom of information
request to eSafety.
Kind regards
FOI Coordinator
[1]eSafety logo Email-Signautre
[2]Email-Footers icons3[3]esafety.gov.au
[4]Email-Footers iconsT[5]Email-Footers iconsF[6]Email-Footers iconsL
eSafety acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.
We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and
to Elders past, present and emerging.