Communications watchdog wins power to oversee ‘deliberate lies’ spread on social media
Deliberate lies spread on social media in Australia will be policed by the communications watchdog, under proposed national laws.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) would receive powers to monitor and regulate content on digital platforms, under the bill to be unveiled on Thursday.
But the potential laws against misinformation and disinformation would stop short of allowing the authority to issue take-down notices for online content or for individual social media accounts.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced the proposed changes following public consultation held in June and August 2023.
She said the Communications Legislation Amendment was designed to keep Australians safe online and ensure that digital platforms could be held accountable for distributing dangerous untruths in Australia.
“Misinformation and disinformation pose a serious threat to the safety and wellbeing of Australians, as well as to democracy, society and (the) economy,” she said.
“Doing nothing and allowing this problem to fester is not an option.”
The federal government received more than 2400 submissions on its proposals to tackle misinformation online last year, and Ms Rowland said feedback was reflected in the bill.
“Revisions have been made that carefully balance the public interest in combating seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation with the freedom of expression that is so fundamental to democracy,” she said.
Under the changes, the authority would be able monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks.
Stay informed, daily
The agency would also be able to approve an enforceable industry code of conduct or introduce standards for social media companies if self-regulation was deemed to fail.
A voluntary code of practice for digital platforms, called the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation, is overseen by industry group DiGi, which publishes annual reports.
Not all digital platforms have signed up to the code, however, with companies such as X and Snapchat not participating.
The proposed law comes one month after a national survey by three Australian universities found most Australians wanted more action to stop the spread of misinformation online.
The survey of more than 4400 people, overseen by researchers at Western Sydney University, the University of Canberra and QUT, found 80 per cent of Australians wanted to see a crackdown on misinformation – up by six per cent compared to 2021.
