Huge changes to tackle misinformation on social media

Social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok will be held to account for harmful misinformation under new laws.

Digital platforms including Facebook and TikTok will be held to account for seriously harmful misinformation under new laws.

Pledging to tackle seriously harmful content, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland unveiled the changes, warning that while digital platforms had brought significant benefits to Australians, they can also serve as a vehicle for the spread of misleading or false information.

Under the changes the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will oversee digital platforms with new information gathering, record keeping, code registration and standard making powers.

The Albanese Government said it would mean new obligations on digital platforms to increase their transparency with Australian users about how they handle misinformation and disinformation on its services.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland unveiled the changes. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Misinformation and disinformation pose a serious threat to the safety and wellbeing of Australians, as well as to our democracy, society and economy,” Ms Rowland said.

“Doing nothing and allowing this problem to fester is not an option.

“The Government is committed to keeping Australians safe online, and that includes ensuring the ACMA has the powers it needs to hold digital platforms to account for misinformation and disinformation on their services.”

But she insisted the new legislation would also get the balance right with strong protections for freedom of speech.

“These revisions reflect that feedback and I look forward to seeing the Bill become law as we combat the threat of misinformation and disinformation.”

Platforms are and will remain responsible for managing content on their services in line with their own terms of service.

Social media crackdown

The announcement follows the Prime Minister throwing his support behind a ban on children holding social media accounts.

Mr Albanese said his personal preference would be to keep kids away from social media platforms for longer, with his preferred age limit leaning towards 16.

Meanwhile, a new crackdown on social media companies allowing “criminal conduct” to flourish, and allowing scammers to rip off customers, is also set to be unveiled on Friday, with draft legislation to go out for consultation.

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has previously flagged new requirements on companies to contribute to disrupting financial scams.

Outlining the road map to the new reforms, the Albanese Government is now set to unveil the proposed legislation by the end of this week, as the Prime Minister announces a plan to introduce age limits for social media.

There are new changes coming to social media. Picture: iStock

Warning that just a few years ago scams were doubling every year, Mr Jones said that despite the government’s moves to arrest the growth, there was nothing to celebrate in the fact that an estimated $2.75 billion is still being lost to scams, many of them promoted on social media.

“The government has got a broad agenda to tackle the harm caused by social media,’’ Mr Jones told news.com.au.

“What I can confirm is that in addition to that area of economic harms, we will have draft legislation later this week that will put in place high level obligations on designated industries.

“That will start with banks, telcos and social media to detect scams.”

Former Sunrise host David Koch is among those who have campaigned for change after being devastated to learn fake news articles on social media about cryptocurrency used his name and image, even though he had no connection to it.

Originally published as Huge changes to tackle misinformation on social media