TRANSCRIPT
The federal government has introduced new laws in response to the dangers posed by misinformation and disinformation in the digital age.
They will crackdown on big tech with the threat of significant fines.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says some 75 percent of Australians are concerned about the harmful impacts of misinformation and disinformation.
“Digital platforms can also serve as a vehicle for the spread of misleading or false information that is seriously harmful to Australians. The rapid spread of seriously harmful mis and disinformation poses a significant challenge to the functioning of societies around the world."
She highlights the spread of false information surrounding Bondi Junction stabbing attack and a stabbing incident in Southport in the UK as alarming.
The legislation would give the Australian Communications and Media Authority new powers, where it would be authorised to demand the social platforms keep their records and hand them over.
"This bill seeks to strengthen the voluntary code by providing regulatory backstop. The bill will empower the ACMA to review the effectiveness of digital platform systems and processes and will improve transparency about measures platforms have in place to protect Australians from mis and disinformation on their services."
But Independent Senator David Pocock says he's concerned the government is treading into uncharted territory.
"In Australia, without a human rights act or some sort of Bill of Rights that enshrines freedom of expression, we have to tread carefully when we start talking about policing misinformation and people's views. I'm concerned that this legislation is essentially putting the onus on social media companies to deal with this. I don't think there's a lot of trust in those social media companies at the moment."
Ms Rowland says the bill has carefully calibrated definitions of serious harms that aligns with Australia's human rights obligations.
And breaking the law will come with significant financial penalties.
"Digital platforms may be subject to civil penalties of up to five percent of global turnover for breaches of a standard and up to two percent for codes. These penalties are high. However, they may be necessary in response to egregious and systematic breaches and failure to act."
Senator Pocock is critical of the government's draft bill.
"Five percent of global revenue, that's a big fine. What we have seen with Twitter or X is that they are trying to fine them and they are just not paying up. And so, I think we really need the government to willing to take on these social media giants who are playing an increasing role in shaping our societies but don't want any responsibility for the things they are spreading."
He also says it's really important for the government to deal with the growing threat around the use of generative artificial intelligence, especially around election campaigning.
"I have real concerns about making social media companies the arbiters of truth. Of them deciding what is and what isn't misinformation. Particularly when they have these algorithms that there's no transparency. The are boosting things, putting things in front of people and we don't know how that is actually working."
These laws have been long awaited and come after a draft bill was released last year.
The federal government is also introducing a new separate legislation to outlaw what's known as doxing - where people who maliciously publish personal details about someone online, could face a jail sentence of up to seven years.
