Anonymous social media account ban: Australians may need 100 points of identification

Australians would be forced to submit 100 points of identification, before setting up any social media or Tinder account under proposed changes.

Police would access Australians’ private social media accounts and dating apps to crack down on high-tech harassment and abuse, with anonymous accounts banned under radical reforms being considered by the Morrison Government.

Australians would be forced to submit 100 points of identification, such as a passport or driver’s licence, before setting up or maintaining any social media account, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Tinder, under recommendations by the federal parliamentary inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence.

The contentious change would prevent people from setting up anonymous accounts, and make them liable for defamation suits or even criminal prosecution for menacing messages or harassment.

Inquiry chairman Andrew Wallace, a Liberal MP, said “there is merit to removing the veil of anonymity’’ online.

“If you know you could be tracked down by the police or the e-safety Commissioner for bullying, cajoling or harassing someone on social media, people will be much more careful about what they say or do,’’ he told News Corp Australia.

“Things have gotten so bad online, it’s spilling into our interactions face-to-face.’’

Tinder and other social media apps may be affected.

In a shocking report released today, the parliamentary committee warns that abusers are using dating and pornography sites to humiliate ex-partners and using smart TVs and pets to spy on them.

Surveillance devices had been planted on pet collars and kids’ toys, or smart TVs and household appliances hijacked to spy on victims.

Some men are impersonating women with fake accounts on dating or porn sites to “harass and cause additional stress and anxiety’’, the report states.

“Perpetrators are able to carry out abuse with little risk of sanction,’’ the report states.

Only two people have been convicted of sharing revenge porn since the federal government made it a criminal offence nearly three years ago, with just three more cases before the courts.

Mr Wallace said technology was making it easier for DV offenders to control and spy on their partners.

“Perpetrators are immobilising cars once they’ve gone a certain number of kilometres from the family home, or they have frozen or boiled people out of their homes by controlling the temperature on the airconditioner,’’ he said.

Mr Wallace said DV services had told the inquiry that some victims “prefer the physical violence to the coercive control and psychological warfare’’.

Some men are impersonating women with fake accounts on dating sites. Picture: AFP

The federal government is considering the committee’s recommendation to ban anonymous accounts on social media.

“In order to open or maintain an existing social media account, customers should be required by law to identify themselves to a platform using 100 points of identification, in the same way as a person must provide identification for a mobile phone account, or to buy a mobile SIM card,’’ it says.

“Social media platforms must provide those identifying details when requested by the eSafety Commissioner, law enforcement or as directed by a court.

“The Government should consider regulating to enable law enforcement agencies to access a platform’s end-to-end encrypted data, by warrant, in matters involving a threat to the physical or mental wellbeing of an individual or in cases of national security.

“There should be a substantial increase in criminal and civil penalties for technology-facilitated abuse to act as a greater deterrent for errant behaviour.’’

The inquiry has recommended that Australia adopt a UK system of “silent calls’’ to police so frightened women or children can call triple-0 and then press numbers to seek help, instead of speaking and alerting the perpetrator.

The committee also wants extra funding for domestic violence services, school lessons on respectful relationships, and more help for perpetrators to stop abuse.

Family Planning NSW told the inquiry about “reproductive coercion’’, with men sabotaging or controlling access to contraception, or forcing women to have an abortion.

Mr Wallace said a woman is killed average, every eight days at the hands of her partner or former partner.

“This senseless violence and abuse is sadly all too common … as a nation we must do better,’’ he said.

Originally published as Anonymous social media account ban: Australians may need 100 points of identification