Labor to introduce revamped misinformation bill
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: Labor will introduce its misinformation and disinformation bill to parliament on Thursday after making a number of changes to the proposed laws following criticism from legal experts and human rights experts.
The context: Under the changes, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will oversee digital platforms with new powers to set an enforceable industry code or make standards should companies fail to self-regulate under the existing voluntary codes.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has previously suggested there would also be an exemption for religious expression and changes to the definitions of misinformation and disinformation and to the exemption for government material. The news media will also be exempt from the laws.
Rowland proposed the laws more than a year ago but went back to the drawing board after widespread criticism that it gave ACMA too much power to regulate speech on the internet and overly broad definitions of misinformation and disinformation.
The government is insisting that nothing in the bill enables ACMA to take down individual pieces of content or user accounts.
What they said: “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," Rowland said.
“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 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.”
The source: Communication Minister's office
