Sweeping new powers are being granted to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner to monitor and takedown “seriously harmful content”, including those related to cyberbullying and revenge porn. However, lawyers, civil rights groups, and tech giant Google have expressed concerns about the new law’s scope and possible infringements on civil liberties. Introduced into Parliament last week, the Online Safety Bill grants the Commissioner authority to address headline issues such as cyberbullying, toxic online abuse, child sexual abuse, image-based abuse (revenge porn), and any other content deemed harmful. It also establishes minimum online safety guidelines for the industry. “When people interact in person, they take for granted that the rule of law applies. People should be able to expect the same when they interact online,” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said in a statement. The Commissioner will also have the power to compel internet service providers to block access to content deemed harmful. Further, app …