The Albanese Government will introduce legislation to Parliament to give the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) new powers to hold digital platforms to account and improve efforts to combat seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation.
The Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 is focused on combatting the most seriously harmful content on digital platforms, and contains strengthened protections for freedom of speech.
This follows extensive public consultation process with key stakeholders to refine and prepare the Bill for introduction.
While digital platforms have brought significant benefits to Australians – allowing us to connect with family and friends around the world, they can also serve as a vehicle for the spread of misleading or false information that is seriously harmful to Australian’s health, safety, security and wellbeing.
According to the Australian Media Literacy Alliance, 80% of Australians say the spread of misinformation on social media needs to be addressed.
The Bill empowers the ACMA to oversee digital platforms with new information gathering, record keeping, code registration and standard making powers.
It will also introduce new obligations on digital platforms to increase their transparency with Australian users about how they handle misinformation and disinformation on their services.
The Bill will complement voluntary industry codes but allow the ACMA to approve an enforceable industry code or make standards should industry self-regulation fail to address the threat posed by misinformation and disinformation.
Nothing in the Bill enables the ACMA themselves to take down individual pieces of content or user accounts.
Platforms are and will remain responsible for managing content on their services in line with their own terms of service.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“Misinformation and disinformation pose a serious threat to the safety and wellbeing of Australians, as well as to our democracy, society and economy. Doing nothing and allowing this problem to fester is not an option.
“The Government is committed to keeping Australians safe online, and that includes ensuring the ACMA has the powers it needs to hold digital platforms to account for misinformation and disinformation on their services.
“Following public consultation on the draft Bill last year, revisions have been made that carefully balance the public interest in combatting seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation with the freedom of expression that is so fundamental to our democracy.
“These revisions reflect that feedback and I look forward to seeing the Bill become law as we combat the threat of misinformation and disinformation.”
