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The federal government has introduced new laws in response to the dangers posed by misinformation and disinformation in the digital age.
They will crack down on big tech by threatening them with significant fines.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said around 75 per cent of Australians are concerned about the harmful effects of misinformation and disinformation.
“Digital platforms can also serve as a vehicle for the dissemination of misleading or false information that seriously harms Australians. The rapid spread of seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation poses a significant challenge to the functioning of societies across the world. »
She highlights as alarming the spread of false information regarding the stabbing in Bondi Junction and a stabbing incident in Southport in the United Kingdom.
The legislation would give the Australian Communications and Media Authority new powers, allowing it to require social platforms to keep their records and hand them over.
“This Bill aims to strengthen the voluntary code by providing regulatory support. The Bill will empower the ACMA to review the effectiveness of digital platforms’ systems and processes and improve transparency on the measures put in place by the platforms to protect Australians from misinformation on their services.
But independent senator David Pocock says he is concerned the government is venturing into uncharted territory.
“In Australia, without a human rights law or some sort of Bill of Rights that enshrines freedom of speech, we have to be careful when we start talking about police disinformation and people’s opinions. I’m concerned that this legislation will essentially put the onus on the social media companies to deal with this, I don’t think there’s a lot of trust in these social media companies at the moment.
Ms Rowland says the bill has carefully calibrated definitions of serious harm that align with Australia’s human rights obligations.
And breaking the law will result in significant financial penalties.
“Digital platforms may be subject to civil penalties of up to five percent of global turnover for violations of a standard and up to two percent for codes. These penalties are high. However, they may be necessary in response to flagrant and systematic violations and failures to act.”
Senator Pocock criticizes the government’s bill.
“Five percent of global revenue is a big fine. What we’ve seen with Twitter or X is they try to fine them and they just don’t pay. And so, I think we really need the government to be willing to take action on these social media giants who are playing an increasing role in shaping our societies but who don’t want any accountability for the things they put out there. »
He also says it is very important for the government to address the growing threat from the use of generative artificial intelligence, especially in election campaigns.
“I have real concerns about making social media companies the arbiters of truth. It’s up to them to decide what is and isn’t misinformation. Especially when they have these algorithms, there is no transparency. They stimulate things, put them in front of people and we don’t know how it actually works.
These laws have been long overdue and come after the release of a bill last year.
The federal government is also introducing separate new legislation to ban so-called doxing, in which people who maliciously post someone’s personal information online, could face prison time of up to ‘at seven years old.
