Tech giants failing to meet expectations of online safety, says Paul Fletcher

Digital platforms are failing to meet community expectations about online safety, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher. Picture: Kym Smith

Digital platforms are failing to meet community expectations about online safety and preventing harm, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says.

Mr Fletcher will use a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday to announce the ­immediate introduction of a ­national Online Safety Charter setting more stringent expectations on service providers, and start a 10-week consultation process for an online safety act.

He will criticise the sector for being resistant to change when it comes to bolstering online safety for millions of Australians, including children. “Some sectors of the internet industry have been slow to meet the community’s expectations when it comes to online safety,” he will say.

“Many of today’s most popular digital products and services have not been designed with user safety in mind.

“That needs to change.”

Mr Fletcher will say all Australians deserve protection from online abuse, harmful material must be taken offline faster and attempts to broadcast terrorist ­attacks must be immediately stopped.

“Industry needs to step up and take more responsibility,” Mr Fletcher will say.

The discussion paper for the new act, which was a Morrison government election commitment, will examine issues such as reducing the response time for taking down harmful content from the current 48 hours to 24 hours.

The consultation period will also include discussion about ­extending the cyber-bullying scheme to cover everyday gaming, chat and messaging services.