Recently the Australian Federal Government proposed a bill that will target online trolls in a power move to stop “harmful” content from circulating online.
The draft legislation will give the government the ability to take action to counter “harmful” content online, if online service providers or platforms fail to remove the content within 24 hours of the post’s release. The timeframe Is currently 48 hours for social media platforms, but with this bill the time will be halved.
Should the service providers refuse or not comply with the new regulations, the bill gives powers to the government to stop websites such as Google, Facebook and other social media platforms from being accessed. Though this decision may be considered harsh by the tech industry, this bill will give protection to the Australian people from bad influences online, while also stripping the anonymous veil that online trolls use to hide behind in the digital space.
Protections for children would also be strengthened, with the eSafety Commissioner able to order the removal of cyber-bullying material from platforms such as gaming or messaging services, as well as social media.
Contact us at Agilient for a digital/cyberspace consultation and find out how we can help you follow new industry standards and policies.
Author: Saeed Baayoun, Agilient Consultant