Australia awards Indigenous grants to combat online and AI-powered abuse

The Australian eSafety Commissioner has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to Indigenous-led programs designed to combat online abuse against women. These projects are part of a larger $3.5 million federal government funding round aimed at preventing technology-based abuse.

Key recipients include the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service, which received over $215,000 to investigate how technology is used for coercive control in relationships. Additionally, the Nja-marleya Cultural Leaders and Justice Group was awarded more than $239,600 to develop educational games and online learning to promote respectful digital behavior among youth in remote Northern Territory communities.

Other funding will support initiatives to encourage positive online behavior among young men and improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Furthermore, the Young Women's Alliance and Griffith University will receive $650,000 to evaluate strategies against AI-enabled deepfakes and digital surveillance targeting young people and First Nations communities.