PM Scott Morrison flags regulating social media giants

Scott Morrison has hinted at regulation if the tech titans failed to act on limiting the spread of extremism on their platforms.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged regulating social media giants. Picture: Getty Images

Scott Morrison has flagged the possibility of regulation for the big social media companies if they failed to act against the use of their platforms for spreading violent extremism.

The Prime Minister confirmed to The Australian that this was a path that the government could pursue unless companies such as Facebook and Twitter took greater social responsibility.

It comes as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called on the social media giants to do more to tackle online radicalisation and far-right hate speech.

Ms Ardern said today Facebook’s current work to remove more than 1.5 million versions of the Christchurch terrorist’s own live streamed footage showed it had the power to stop online hate.

“They’re continuing to automatically remove but also I believe manually in some cases remove any replica of that video and any form whether it’s cut or in film,” she said in Wellington.

“The fact that only one of those times (removing videos) has been automated tells me there are powers to take a very direct approach to instances of speech that incites violence or that incites hate.

“And I would call on our social media platforms of all variety to demonstrate the kind of responsibility that both lead to these events and that includes those who perpetuate the messages in the aftermath. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Bill Shorten said today that there should be “consequences” for social media companies for publishing hate speech and has called on tech giants to sit down with him and the opposition frontbench.

“I do think there should be consequences … we’ve got to have one rule applying for everyone,” the Opposition Leader said in Perth today.

“We need to say to the social media platforms, time to do more than you’re doing.

“Regulation is always an option. Let’s talk to people, let’s talk to the tech giants.

“I’m running for prime minister of Australia. If you want to do business in Australia, you’ve got to play by Australian rules.”