There is legislation coming down the pipes to control this kind of destructive behaviour on the internet. The Australian government has just made this announcement in the last hour: hooray and not before time!!!
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced powerful new legislation to address online trolling, paving the way for social media users to “unmask” anonymous accounts who disseminate defamatory slurs, while shifting the burden of responsibility for toxic, third party comments to Big Tech.
The measures augment existing mechanisms announced by the Morrison government aimed at regulating the social media giants. Liability for online comments made by third parties will shift from media outlets and small businesses to social media services, deeming them to be the “publisher”.
Moreover, the legislation will force Big Tech to implement a complaint process for people who believe they have been defamed. If the companies do not comply, a mechanism will be introduced enabling the Federal Court to compel social media companies to “unmask” accounts.
In a press conference, the Prime Minister said there should be consistency between laws in the real and online worlds. “The online world should not be a wild west where bots and bigots and trolls and others are anonymously going around and can harm people and hurt people, harass them and bully them and sledge them. That is not Australia,” Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday morning. “That is not what can happen in the real world, and there is no case for it to be able to be happening in the digital world.”
“Free speech is not about being allowed to cowardly hide in your basement and sledge … and harass people anonymously and seek to destroy their lives. That is cowardice — and there is no place for that in this country.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced powerful new legislation to address online trolling, paving the way for social media users to “unmask” anonymous accounts who disseminate defamatory slurs, while shifting the burden of responsibility for toxic, third party comments to Big Tech.
The measures augment existing mechanisms announced by the Morrison government aimed at regulating the social media giants. Liability for online comments made by third parties will shift from media outlets and small businesses to social media services, deeming them to be the “publisher”.
Moreover, the legislation will force Big Tech to implement a complaint process for people who believe they have been defamed. If the companies do not comply, a mechanism will be introduced enabling the Federal Court to compel social media companies to “unmask” accounts.
In a press conference, the Prime Minister said there should be consistency between laws in the real and online worlds. “The online world should not be a wild west where bots and bigots and trolls and others are anonymously going around and can harm people and hurt people, harass them and bully them and sledge them. That is not Australia,” Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday morning. “That is not what can happen in the real world, and there is no case for it to be able to be happening in the digital world.”
“Free speech is not about being allowed to cowardly hide in your basement and sledge … and harass people anonymously and seek to destroy their lives. That is cowardice — and there is no place for that in this country.”
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