The Australian government has announced new measures to curb access to abusive technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools that generate sexually explicit deepfake content and online stalking applications.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said on Tuesday the government will work with technology companies to ensure such tools are restricted and cannot be misused to harm vulnerable groups, especially children.

“There is a place for AI and legitimate tracking technology in Australia, but there is no place for apps and technologies that are used solely to abuse, humiliate, and harm people,” Wells said in a statement. She warned that abusive technologies are already widely accessible and causing “real and irreparable damage.”

The crackdown will complement existing laws against stalking and the non-consensual distribution of explicit material. Like Australia’s upcoming ban on children under 16 accessing social media platforms, set to take effect in December, the responsibility for compliance will fall on technology firms.

Concerns over AI-generated sexual content have grown in recent years. Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, reported in June that incidents of digitally altered intimate images of under-18s had doubled in the past 18 months compared to the preceding seven years combined.

Earlier in July, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that YouTube would be included in the under-16 social media ban. The platform was initially exempt due to its educational value, but regulators argued it also exposes children to harmful content.

Albanese said the government is prepared to “take action” against platforms that fuel social harm. Wells added that the inclusion of YouTube and restrictions on abusive tools reflect a policy of “prioritizing parents ahead of platforms.”