AGP Executive Report

Online Safety Crackdown: Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has launched Federal Court action against Telegram over alleged failure to remove terrorist content, with potential civil penalties up to A$54.6m. Telco Accountability: ACMA is also suing Optus over the September 2025 Triple Zero outage, alleging more than 1,000 breaches tied to emergency call failures and two deaths. Media Habits Shift: The Digital News Report: Australia 2026 says social media now beats direct-to-site/app news (56% vs 52%), with younger audiences driving the change and AI chatbots used by 9% for news follow-ups. Radio/Podcast Video Push: ARN adds video to iHeart, launching full-length video podcasts plus short-form vertical “iHeart Highlights,” with dynamic video ads planned. Ad Standards Pressure: Ad Standards complaints rose 10% to 3,400 in H1 2026, with health and safety the biggest trigger. SportSA Governance Shake-up: Three board members resign amid concerns over financial transparency. Energy/Infrastructure: TCL Solar wins module supply for Edify Energy’s 720MW Queensland solar projects.

Social Media Regulation: Elon Musk’s X has pushed back on Australia’s planned tougher enforcement for the under-16 social media ban, warning the expanded powers for the eSafety Commissioner could clash with international legal principles and privacy expectations. Policy Spillover: The Philippines’ PNP is weighing a similar minors’ social media ban, citing Australia’s under-16 law as inspiration after school-violence discussions at an ASEAN police conference. Media & Marketing: In a rare “content-to-commerce” move, WP Engine has partnered with Commerce/BigCommerce to launch Commerce Connect for BigCommerce, aiming to help mid-market brands modernise storefronts while keeping WordPress content and SEO. Sports & Audience Culture: Motorsport’s US GP is being explored as a potential marketing crossover with MotoGP demo laps, while Australia’s own sports media continues to track Commonwealth Games and football talent flows. Wildlife Visuals: A drone filmed a humpback whale calf birth off NSW—only the fourth such birth ever captured on camera, and the first using a drone.

Teen Social Media Rules Clash: Elon Musk’s X says Australia’s tougher under-16 enforcement would undermine international law, arguing eSafety document-discovery powers and higher penalties lack procedural fairness. Privacy & Schools: eSafety Commissioner warnings highlight AI deepfakes being used to manipulate children’s photos, pushing schools to tighten how they share student images. Misleading Ads Crackdown: Harvey Norman and Latitude Finance face a combined $55m penalty over interest-free advertising claims, adding pressure on how brands market credit. AI Infrastructure IPO: SCX.ai’s $40m ASX listing draws strong institutional backing, positioning it as sovereign AI inference-as-a-service. Renewables Scale-Up: Neoen wins firming contracts to double South Australia’s Goyder battery to 454MW/1,814MWh, aiming to support the state’s net-renewables push. Human Trafficking Online Fraud: UN-linked reporting warns victims are coerced into online scams, with Australia and NZ flagged among high-loss regions. Brand Expansion in Asia: EXPAND conference in Sydney spotlights how Australian marketers are scaling into Asia with localisation, not copy-paste. Coffee Production Partnership: Jet Technologies signs with Neuhaus Neotec to bring end-to-end roasting and packaging solutions to Australia/NZ roasters.

Social Media Regulation: France has become the first European country to ban under-15s from social media, with a phased rollout from September and age-verification expectations for platforms. Local Online Safety: Australia’s under-16 social media ban is already pushing age checks and an Online Safety Code, and a new global roundup shows more than 20 countries moving toward similar rules. Consumer Law & Marketing: Guardian Australia reports NannyLane Australia removed placeholder “fake” testimonials and images after a customer flagged them—another reminder that Australian Consumer Law blocks misleading reviews. Political Transparency: Rex Patrick’s AUKUS documents fight escalates as the government seeks up to $150,000 in legal costs if he loses. Media & Sports Rights: Prime Video and Rogers sign a 12-year NHL sublicensing deal for Canada, adding exclusive national games and select playoff series. Energy Security: Australia plans its first new oil refinery in 60 years after petrol shortages, backed by a feasibility study. Cybercrime & Fraud: UN warns criminal gangs are increasingly running online scam centres, exploiting hundreds of thousands worldwide.

Victorian Politics: Ben Carroll has taken over as Victoria’s premier, promising a different approach and vowing to establish a royal commission into the construction sector, while ICAC fallout continues to swirl around Liberal figures. Regulation & Advertising: ASIC has hit Harvey Norman and Latitude Financial with a record combined $55m penalty over “interest-free” ads that allegedly masked credit-card requirements and extra fees—another big warning to marketers about clarity. Media Bargaining: Microsoft is pushing to exclude Bing and LinkedIn from Australia’s news bargaining levy framework, arguing it would disadvantage smaller search services. AI Infrastructure Supply Chains: Blue Yonder warns AI data-centre rollouts are increasingly constrained by global supply-chain complexity, not just chips and power. Energy Transition Sentiment: A new Clean Energy Solutions Index shows rooftop solar and EV support rising, but overall energy-transition support still needs deeper community trust. Travel & Safety: UAE-bound travellers face extended aviation safety advisories amid ongoing Gulf security uncertainty. Corporate Tech: Quantcast appoints ex-The Trade Desk leader Tom Weaving to drive Southeast Asia growth. Tourism/Branding: Estée Lauder launches Glimmer Eau de Parfum, leaning into the gourmand fragrance trend.

Workplace Justice: The federal government will consult on a planned new Fair Work Court aimed at making disputes fairer, faster, simpler and more accessible for employers and employees. Media & Regulation: France’s sweeping social media ban for under-15s keeps spreading across the policy debate, with questions about enforcement and whether bans actually improve child safety. Sports & Streaming: U-Next expands its soccer push with European rights including Germany’s DFB-Pokal and more preseason matches, signalling how broadcasters are chasing global audiences. MarCom & Partnerships: Air India and India’s tourism ministry sign an MoU to co-market India via digital, social and inflight branding—another example of airline-led destination promotion. Legal & Public Sentiment: Australia’s court backs a racial discrimination finding against One Nation leader Pauline Hanson over a 2022 X post targeting Mehreen Faruqi, keeping free-speech vs harm front and centre. Tech & Trust: Karbon’s new research argues AI in accounting must be paired with trust and human judgment, not just automation.

Emergency Comms Rollout: AusAlert’s first nationwide test is underway, with phones expected to sound a 10-second siren and show a test message, but reports say some users didn’t receive it—raising questions about reliability and domestic-violence “safe phone” risks. Media & Politics: Pauline Hanson’s appeal over a “seriously offensive” racist X post targeting Mehreen Faruqi has been rejected, with Hanson hinting at a High Court fight. Adland Leadership: Hello appoints David Griffiths as managing director to lead its integrated creative offering, signalling continued investment in social, influencer, events and measurement. Agency/Tech Marketing: Propelrr adopts EOS and an AI-first operating model to scale digital marketing outcomes, while Runnit launches an AI marketing operations platform. Consumer Protection: New Zealand’s Consumer NZ urges stronger rules against unfair trading, hidden fees and dark patterns—mirroring Australia’s push on unfair practices. Brand/OOH Culture: Pacific Place and CJ Hendry unveil “juju world,” a large-scale Hong Kong retail experience built for engagement and merch.

Kids & Social Media Regulation: Philippines police chief says the country may copy or improve Australia’s under-16 social media ban to curb online radicalisation and prevent school shootings, with lawmakers also considering a similar restriction after ASEANAPOL talks. EU Online Safety Push: An EU expert panel backs an EU-wide minimum age for social media use, urging tech firms to protect minors via safety design and limiting access to under-13s until safeguards land. Big Tech & Compliance Pressure: The same regulatory wave is showing up globally, with Vietnam proposing rules that would require platforms to stop under-16s from posting and use parent-linked registration plus stronger privacy and harmful-content controls. Media & Trust: A University of Canberra media literacy course for Australians 55+ reportedly lifts misinformation detection and verification skills, with gains lasting months—aimed at helping older users navigate a polarised online feed. Adland Watch: AdNews Agency of the Year 2026 entries are open, adding new categories for music use, holdco brands and specialist agencies. Celebrity/TV Moment: Meghan Markle’s MasterChef Australia guest spot included a surprise FaceTime call from Prince Harry, turning a studio tasting into a viral media beat.

Social Media & Regulation: Meta is set to appear as a witness in Australia’s racism inquiry, with hearings focused on online racism, reporting and how incidents are handled. AI Policy: The Greens are pushing a one-year pause on consenting new AI data centres, arguing councils are approving behind closed doors while energy and water impacts hit communities. Health & Consumer Protection: NSW is commissioning research to crack down on the “weaponisation” of therapy records in sexual assault trials, aiming to reduce trauma from forced disclosure. Immigration & Fees: Australia has hiked international student visa fees by 25%—but exempted ASEAN students from the full increase, positioning it as a regional engagement move. MarCom & Media Industry: oOh!media and Cricket Australia extend their OOH collaboration, keeping sport sponsorship and out-of-home advertising in the spotlight. Digital Safety Campaigning: Crime Stoppers launches a campaign targeting money mule recruitment, warning people off social media and messaging scams. Public Debate: ACT and the Greens are both using policy messaging to pressure governments on medicines funding gaps and data-centre consent rules. Sports Marketing: The Errol Spence Jr vs Tim Tszyu fight is driving heavy streaming and broadcast promotion in Australia and globally.

Social Media Regulation Push: Philippine police say an ASEANAPOL proposal could see Australia-style bans on minors’ social media use, citing the Tacloban school shooting and pointing to Australia’s under-16 restrictions and penalties for platforms. AI in Education Privacy: A new warning argues AI tools in K-12 are outpacing safeguards, leaving children’s data exposed and creating “privacy nightmares” for schools and families. Platform Reliability Shock: OpenAI confirmed a global ChatGPT outage affecting users in Australia and worldwide, with people unable to log in, send prompts, or load chat history. Ad Tech Compliance: Amazon has started requiring Australian third-party sellers to label listing images/videos that include photorealistic AI-generated people, with shopper-facing indicators planned. Sports & Media Moments: Commonwealth Games coverage included a dramatic netball opener for England and a frightening gymnastics fall involving Gabriel Langton, while the wider week also featured high-profile sports and entertainment chatter.

Media accountability: The Australian Press Council marks 50 years, arguing journalism’s job is still standards and accountability even as news now flows through feeds, search and AI. Political comms: Labor’s national conference ends with PM Anthony Albanese praising unity, while factional debate on Middle East policy is shut down—highlighting how party platforms get shaped. International marcom & risk: US lawmakers push the GUARD Act to block Chinese-made humanoid/robot tech from critical infrastructure, framing it as a security and espionage play. Global tariffs ripple: Trump rolls out new double-digit tariffs tied to forced-labour claims, with trade partners warning of broader fallout. Australia-linked tech disruption: NASA evacuates a deep-space comms site in Spain due to wildfires, while mission support shifts to Canberra—an example of how comms resilience matters. Cyber & trust: A new advisory warns of “beehive” malware targeting Zimbra email systems, urging patching and monitoring. Sports sponsorship angle: Commonwealth Games “Commy G Lite” is positioned as a smaller-brand opportunity, but sponsorship expert Sarah Niblock asks whether it’s worth it.

Media & AI: Reuters editor-in-chief Alessandra Galloni warns generative AI is an “existential” threat to journalism unless publishers are fairly paid for the reporting that trains models. Cyber & Privacy: The EU says TikTok breached rules by letting adults view minors’ accounts, raising the risk of cyberbullying and unwanted contact. Platform Accountability: A US judge dismissed a WhatsApp privacy lawsuit alleging Meta could access encrypted messages, but plaintiffs can refile. Digital Safety (Kids Online): Vietnam is considering tighter limits on under-16s posting or interacting on social media, while the broader global trend keeps pushing age-based restrictions. Scams (Australia): Westpac flags an AI-fuelled “arms race” in scams, with losses still climbing and criminals tailoring attacks around victims’ emotions and circumstances. Energy Security: Origin Energy confirms a widening data breach affecting up to 5 million customers. MarCom/OOH: Qantas Project Sunrise and other brand/agency moves keep spotlighting how marketing and media partnerships are evolving.

Social Media & Kids: UK ex–Meta exec Sir Nick Clegg says a ban on under-16s won’t “solve” the problem, warning kids will just move to other apps that are “much less safe,” as governments push stricter age rules. Gambling Harm Reduction: Labor’s national conference backs stronger gambling regulation, including tougher powers for regulators and exploring ways to stop online gambling inducements aimed at young people via games and social platforms. Health & Safety: Australia’s TGA warns GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic/Wegovy/Mounjaro) may be linked to a rare but severe eye disorder, urging urgent care for sudden vision loss. Media & Regulation: Victoria Police told an anti-Semitism royal commission it scans social media 24/7 via a centralised command centre to spot ideological threats and violence. MarCom/Branding: Qantas’ Project Sunrise hits a major milestone with a modified A350 test flight landing in Melbourne after ~17,000km. Business/PR: Blackmores and Kirin launch cognition supplements in Australia and NZ, using Kirin’s Cognizin® citicoline. Energy/Planning: A Queensland council granted a lifespan extension for a wind project meteorological mast, keeping Vestas’ Captains Mountain wind farm on track.

Indo-Pacific Security: Australia and the US have completed Exercise Death Strike: Trident Fury, testing around-the-clock JASSM and conventional munitions generation to keep long-range precision strike capability ready under pressure. Uncrewed Arms Race: Boeing used Farnborough to push the flight-tested MQ-28 Ghost Bat as demand for collaborative combat aircraft accelerates, with Australia’s MQ-28A programme positioned as a mature answer to growing CCA needs. Gambling Advertising Reckoning: Australia’s sports betting ads are back in the spotlight as regulators and commentators debate whether creative campaigns are outpacing responsibility and harm controls. Child Online Safety Policy: France’s under-15 social media ban keeps spreading the policy debate, while Australia’s own age-safety push raises the question of how age checks and enforcement will actually work. Media & Marketing Lessons: FIFA’s World Cup rule and ticket changes are being dissected for what they signal about modern sports marketing, including the rise of creator-led ecosystems. Crypto Scams: A Bali case claims a crypto scammer was robbed after allegedly exploiting kids with cancer, highlighting how fast scam networks move.

Media & AI Fight: Reuters’ boss Alessandra Galloni urges publishers to hold the line on AI training as Anthropic denies talks with the ABC, while Australia’s debate over an AI bargaining code and tighter ad rules for sports betting ramps up. Agency & Marketing Moves: VMO appoints Sam Staples as Queensland sales director; Dairy Australia switches media to Nunn Media after Hatched; and M+C Saatchi ANZ is being handed to local management via a management buyout. Policy & Regulation: France clears the way for a landmark under-15 social media ban, adding pressure on Australia’s own screen-time rules and enforcement debate. Public Interest & Wellbeing: Australia’s emergency alert system faces ongoing concerns; a new report flags women’s health slipping, with fewer cancer screenings and rising stress. Tech & Platforms: EU clears the Paramount-Warner mega-merger with conditions, while Samsung pre-orders in Australia kick off for new foldables. Community & Culture: Jewish leaders tell an anti-Semitism inquiry kids are being isolated and identities hidden; Indian visa services resume across Australia.

Media Industry Shake-Up: Channel 10 is reportedly considering outsourcing news services as newsroom costs rise and ad revenue softens, while Channel 9 continues digital-first restructuring and redundancies across its mastheads. AI & IP Policy: Australia’s AI rules are drawing global attention, with OpenAI and Anthropic publicly backing regulation in Australia as they seek clearer content and data protections. Social Media Regulation Spillover: France has passed an EU-first ban on social media for under-15s, starting with new accounts from September and age checks for existing users from January 2027—mirroring Australia’s earlier under-16 approach. Space Resilience: Australia’s emergency services are being trained to operate without satellites, GPS and remote sensing if space infrastructure is disrupted. Streaming Expansion: Tubi is ramping up in the UK with 900+ new episodes and movies via multiple content deals, reinforcing AVOD growth. Creative Industry: Fox Entertainment joins ARIAM to push for AI guardrails that protect human creativity and rights.