Big Tech to hand over misinformation data in Australia

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has introduced new laws to facilitate government involvement in Big Tech. To this effect, internet companies have to share data about how they manage misinformation and disinformation in the industry.

This is due to the negative consequences of the damaging effect of disinformation in the Australian media.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will also enforce an internet industry code on reluctant platforms, as announced by the government on Monday.

With such a decision they will be joining efforts by various governments around the world to combat the spread of harmful lies online.

The AMCA carried out an investigation that revealed that four-fifths of adults in Australia had fallen victim to the traps of misinformation about COVID-19. This brought about the proposed legislation.

About seventy-six percent were of the opinion that online platforms should put in more effort to reduce the quantity of false and misleading content which are being promoted online.

The legislation is broadly aligned with European initiatives to control harmful internet content, which are set to take effect by the end of 2022. However, considering some of the output from Russian state-owned media during the invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has stated that it wants even stricter measures to combat disinformation.

Paul Fletcher, the communications minister, said “Digital platforms must take responsibility for what is on their sites and take action when harmful or misleading content appears”.

The AMCA stated that Australians were most likely to see misinformation on larger services like Meta Platforms' Facebook and Twitter.

It further added that False narratives typically started with highly emotive and engaging posts within small online conspiracy groups and were amplified by international influencers, local public figures, and media coverage.

It was also noted by the AMCA that disinformation, which involves intentionally spreading false information to influence politics or sow discord, was continuing to target Australians. In Australia, between 2019 and 2020, Facebook deleted four disinformation efforts.

It revealed that conspiracy groups often urged people to join smaller platforms with looser moderation policies, like Telegram. If those platforms rejected industry-set content guidelines they may present a higher risk to the Australian community.

This move by the current government adds to its claims that it has taken a tough stance against big tech companies, as it prepares for elections coming up in May which most polls predict it will lose.

Communications minister, Paul Fletcher said that the new powers for the regulator would be introduced to parliament in late 2022. What this means is that if the current government loses in the upcoming elections, it will be up to the opposition labor party to see to its enforcement.

The current opposition is in support of this move but feels the government had taken too long to act on this, seeing it recommended since 2019.

DIGI which represents Facebook, Google, Twitter, and video site TikTok in Australia said it is in support of the proposal and there are measures on the ground to handle complaints about misinformation.