Australia requires social media platforms to take action to prevent harm: NPR

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian government plans to require social media platforms to take measures to prevent harm to users online, including bullying, predatory behavior and algorithms that push destructive content, the Australian government said Thursday. Announced.

“The digital duty of care will place a responsibility on digital platforms to proactively protect the safety of Australians and more effectively prevent harm online,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement.

The proposed changes to online safety laws were announced ahead of the government introducing a world-first bill in parliament next week that would ban children under 16 from accessing platforms such as X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Critics argue that removing children from social media reduces the incentive for platforms to provide a safer online environment.

Social media has been blamed for an increase in children taking their own lives and developing eating disorders due to bullying and exposure to negative body image.

Mr Rowland said holding technology companies legally responsible for keeping Australians safe was an approach already taken by the UK and the European Union.

Digital companies will need to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable damage to their platforms and services. He said the duty of care framework would be underpinned by risk assessment and risk mitigation, and based on safety-oriented design principles.

Legislating a duty of care means that services cannot be “set it and forget it”. Rather, she said, their obligations mean they must continually identify and mitigate potential risks as technology and service delivery change and evolve.

Categories of harm under the Act include harm to young people and mental health, and the promotion of harmful practices and illegal activities.

The government has not said when the duty of care bill will be submitted to parliament, nor has it outlined any penalties for violations.

Australian digital industry advocacy group Digital Industry Group Inc., better known as DIGI, welcomed the government’s efforts to “future-proof” online safety laws.

“Together, DIGI members represent some of the most secure sections of the internet, and their efforts to keep people safe on their services will never stop,” said Sunita Bose, DIGI Managing Director. said in a statement.

“While we await further details on this announcement, DIGI members continue to deliver safety design in our services and work constructively with government to keep Australians safe online,” Bose added. .

Belinda Barnett, a digital media expert at Swinburne University, described the duty of care as a “great idea”.

“It would be very pioneering to expect platforms that host Australian users to have a duty of care in terms of the content they display and the experience they provide,” Barnett said.

“We’re trying to hold platforms accountable, but that’s not happening at all right now. There’s an assumption that platforms are neutral third parties. They’re not responsible for the impact of their content,” Barnett said. added.