<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>328959</docID> <postdate>2024-09-12 10:40:29</postdate> <headline>Social media lies to be regulated by online cop</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-311541" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240221001905686929-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Social media platforms will be monitored for deliberately perpetrating lies under proposed laws. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Deliberate lies spread on social media in Australia will be policed by the communications watchdog, under proposed national laws. </strong></p> <p>The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) would receive powers to monitor and regulate content on digital platforms, under the bill to be unveiled on Thursday.</p> <p>But the potential laws against misinformation and disinformation would stop short of allowing the authority to issue take-down notices for online content or for individual social media accounts.</p> <p>Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced the proposed changes following public consultation held in June and August 2023.</p> <p>She said the Communications Legislation Amendment was designed to keep Australians safe online and ensure that digital platforms could be held accountable for distributing dangerous untruths in Australia.</p> <p>"Misinformation and disinformation pose a serious threat to the safety and wellbeing of Australians, as well as to democracy, society and (the) economy," she said.</p> <p>"Doing nothing and allowing this problem to fester is not an option."</p> <p>The federal government received more than 2400 submissions on its proposals to tackle misinformation online last year, and Ms Rowland said feedback was reflected in the bill.</p> <p>"Revisions have been made that carefully balance the public interest in combating seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation with the freedom of expression that is so fundamental to democracy," she said.</p> <p>Under the changes, the authority would be able monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks.</p> <p>The agency would also be able to approve an enforceable industry code of conduct or introduce standards for social media companies if self-regulation was deemed to fail.</p> <p>A voluntary code of practice for digital platforms, called the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation, is overseen by industry group DiGi, which publishes annual reports.</p> <p>Not all digital platforms have signed up to the code, however, with companies such as X and Snapchat not participating.</p> <p>The proposed law comes one month after a national survey by three Australian universities found most Australians wanted more action to stop the spread of misinformation online.</p> <p>The survey of more than 4400 people, overseen by researchers at Western Sydney University, the University of Canberra and QUT, found 80 per cent of Australians wanted to see a crackdown on misinformation – up by six per cent compared to 2021.</p> </body>