Australia’s media watchdog can have stronger powers to focus on the rising unfold of misinformation and disinformation.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will get information-gathering and record-keeping powers in a federal authorities effort to create transparency round main platforms’ efforts to fight misinformation.
It will even create an enforceable trade code to switch the voluntary code platforms have signed as much as.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland mentioned the powers can be much like these the watchdog already needed to regulate telecommunications and broadcasting companies.
“It is a co-regulatory structure that is well established in Australia and has served consumers well … the government considers it’s high time we had a similar system applying in the online space,” she advised ABC TV.
“The key here always is about keeping Australians safe and we know unfortunately misinformation has the potential to cause great harms, including harms to social order and threats to our democracy.”
The focus will not be on particular person posters however on systemic points throughout platforms.
Ms Rowland mentioned tech giants reminiscent of Twitter and Facebook wanted greater than a voluntary code to maintain Australians secure.
“The technologies employed by the digital platforms are varied,” she mentioned.
“They include artificial intelligence, consumer complaints but again, we need to make sure that all of those elements are working properly.
“It’s time we empower the regulator to make sure the platforms do what they are saying they will do beneath this code.”
