The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has launched a comprehensive investigation into a significant security breach that compromised its official ABC News Facebook page, which boasts a substantial following of 4.9 million users. The incident involved unauthorised access that led to the brief publication of highly inappropriate content, including photographs of adult content creators and an unflattering image of the nation's Prime Minister.
Compromised Account Leads to Unauthorised Posts
According to an official statement from an ABC News spokesperson, the security lapse was traced back to a compromised staff account. This breach granted the hacker temporary control over the broadcaster's primary Facebook page, where several images were posted before being swiftly removed by ABC administrators. The spokesperson confirmed that access was quickly secured and that a thorough investigation is now underway to review and strengthen the organisation's security protocols and controls.
Nature of the Posted Content
The hacker exploited the access to publish two suggestive photographs featuring OnlyFans adult content creators. One image depicted British porn star Bonnie Blue wearing a pink bikini, which was even set as the page's cover photo at one point during Tuesday's incident. Another adult performer, Lily Phillips, was also featured in the unauthorised posts.
Alongside these images, the hacker posted an unflattering photograph of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese eating a hotdog, creating a bizarre juxtaposition of content on what is typically a serious news platform. Accompanying comments from the hacker, including remarks like "Bonnie blue does ABC News," appeared briefly before being deleted.
Audience Reaction and Swift Action
The ABC's audience expressed confusion and bewilderment at the unexpected content appearing on their trusted news source. Some users posted comments such as "Where's Bonnie gone" and "Bring Back Bonnie," which were subsequently removed along with the offending images. The ABC's social media team acted promptly to delete all unauthorised content and restore normal service to their Facebook page.
Background on Featured Performer
Bonnie Blue, one of the adult performers whose image was posted during the breach, had previously made tabloid headlines last year when she claimed to have slept with 1,057 men within a 12-hour period. This controversial claim led to her being banned from the OnlyFans platform and subsequently became the subject of a Channel 4 documentary that followed her for six months to examine her assertions.
ABC's Digital Presence and Security Measures
Billed as Australia's most trusted news organisation, ABC News typically uses its Facebook page to post links to legitimate news stories and maintain its reputation for reliable journalism. According to Ipsos Iris data, the ABC remains the most popular digital news site in Australia, commanding a monthly audience of 12.9 million users.
The broadcaster has been strategically adjusting its social media presence in recent years. In 2023, ABC scaled back its operations on X (formerly known as Twitter) by closing down most of its individual programming accounts while maintaining its presence on Facebook. Simultaneously, the organisation has shifted resources toward creating content for other social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram.
This strategic shift recently included hiring nine creators from more than 550 applications for its creator program, indicating a continued commitment to engaging with audiences across multiple digital platforms while navigating the challenges of maintaining security in an increasingly complex online environment.
The current investigation aims not only to determine how the breach occurred but also to implement stronger security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring the integrity of one of Australia's most important news sources remains uncompromised.
