New research suggests ‘entrenched bias’ of independent fact checkers could limit Australians’ free speech

Australians’ free speech could soon by limited by the “entrenched bias” of independent fact checkers under provisions of a proposed misinformation bill, new research has suggested.

Australians’ free speech could soon by limited by the “entrenched bias” of independent fact checkers under provisions of a proposed misinformation bill, new research has suggested.

The warning comes as legendary Australian businessman Dick Smith won a rare apology from the ABC Tuesday night over an ABC RMIT Fact Check he claimed was “full of lies.”

Mr Smith received the apology after he sent a three-page letter to ABC Managing Director David Anderson complaining that he had been mischaracterised.

The first of its kind research by the Institute of Public Affairs into 970 “fact checks” performed by RMIT and the AAP found that 65 per cent of verdicts came down favourably on the side of centre-left politicians.

The bias was even worse when it came to specific issues such as climate change and Covid-19 policy.

Dick Smith won a rare apology from the ABC last week. Picture: Richard Dobson

IPA researchers found that 81 per cent of fact checking investigations targeted critics of government climate change and energy policy while “almost none of the controversial claims made by activists such as predictions of imminent catastrophe, have been investigated.”

Reviewing fact checks during the pandemic, researchers found that 94 per cent of fact checks targeted critics of government Covid-19 policy, despite official claims about everything from the effectiveness of masks to the origin of the virus largely in doubt.

The IPA warned that this could see freedom to debate controversial ideas curtailed under planned misinformation legislation.

A “guidance note” issued last year by the government said that under the terms of the law, regulators could use “fact checkers or other third party contractors … to monitor compliance” with misinformation rules.

Research by the IPA previously found that 91 per cent of fact checks about the failed Voice to parliament referendum were used to target claims of Voice opponents.

“Under the federal government’s proposed laws, fact checking bodies will be given enormous weight to determine what social media companies censor in order to avoid fines that can potentially range into the millions of dollars,” said John Storey, director of law and policy at the IPA.

“It is clear that if these organisations are empowered to determine what is misinformation, it will only censor critics of official government policies and the centre-right,” he said.

Research by the IPA previously found that 91 per cent of fact checks about the failed Voice to parliament referendum were used to target claims of Voice opponents, with 99 per cent of those claims assessed to be “false.”

Separately, reports by Sky News Australia have found that Facebook staff colluded with partisan fact checkers to suppress No arguments.

Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A spokesman for Ms Rowland said, “A number of digital platforms already engage fact checkers under their own policies, and some parties to the consultation on the draft bill made suggestions on measures to support the use of fact checkers and other independent researchers.

“The draft Bill would give the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) information gathering powers to provide greater transparency about the systems and processes digital platforms use to respond to misinformation and disinformation on their sites.

“It is not about individual pieces of content.”

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