The election commissioner told local media that the tone of online comments is now “offensive” (Representational)
Sydney:
Tech giants could face billions of dollars in fines for failing to tackle misinformation under proposed Australian laws that a watchdog said on Monday would bring “mandatory” standards to the less-regulated sector.
Under the proposed law, owners of platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, TikTok and podcasting services would face fines of up to five per cent of annual global turnover – the highest ever proposed anywhere in the world.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority, a government watchdog, will be given a range of powers to compel companies to stop spreading misinformation or disinformation and prevent it from being monetised.
“If the legislation is passed, the ACMA will be given new powers to access information from digital platforms, register and enforce mandatory industry codes, as well as create industry standards,” a spokesperson told AFP.
Watchdog will not have the power to approve or remove individual posts.
But instead it could punish platforms for intentionally failing to monitor and combat “false, misleading and deceptive” content that could cause “serious harm”.
The rules would echo legislation in force in the European Union, where tech giants could face fines of up to six percent of annual turnover and a complete ban on operating inside the bloc.
Australia has also been at the forefront of efforts to regulate digital platforms, with tech companies receiving mostly empty threats to pull out of the Australian market.
The proposed bill seeks to strengthen the current voluntary Australian Code of Practice on disinformation and misinformation, which was launched in 2021 but has had only limited impact.
Tech giants including Adobe, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, RedBubble, TikTok and Twitter are signatories to the current code.
The planned laws were unveiled on Sunday and come amid a surge of misinformation in Australia regarding a referendum on Indigenous rights later this year.
Australians will be asked whether the constitution should recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and whether an Indigenous advisory body should be created to consider proposed legislation.
The Australian Electoral Commission said it had seen an increase in misinformation and abuse online about the referendum process.
Elections Commissioner Tom Rogers told local media on Thursday that the tone of online comments had turned “offensive”.
The government argues that tackling disinformation is essential to keeping Australians safe online and safeguarding the country’s democracy.
Communications Minister Michel Rolland said on Sunday, “false and disinformation creates division within the community, undermines trust and can put public health and safety at risk.”
Stakeholders have time till August to give their views on the legislation.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV Staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)