Media authority says tech giants must tackle fake news
Facebook, Google and TikTok are being asked to crack down on fake news and misinformation as part of a voluntary tech industry code due in December. Photo: Getty
The communications watchdog wants tech giants to crack down on fake news, as it looks to promote greater accountability online and reduce potentially harmful misinformation.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has asked digital platforms including Facebook, Google and TikTok to institute an industry code to tackle misinformation.
It says the code should help Australians better judge the veracity of what they are reading online.
“It’s now time for digital platforms to codify and commit to permanent actions that are systematic, transparent, certain and accountable for their users in addressing such potentially harmful material,” ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said.
In an objectives paper released on Friday, the authority said it also wanted the code to improve transparency around how the social media giants operated.
“False and misleading news and information online has the potential to cause serious harm,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
The watchdog is setting a December deadline for the tech giants to formulate the code.
It will report to government by June next year on how effective the voluntary code has been, and may report sooner if the industry fails to set one up.
But the ACMA may also ask the government to regulate social media if it finds the industry’s code doesn’t properly protect users from fake news.
Friday’s report said the summer bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic had been fertile ground for the spreading of harmful misinformation.
This included conspiracy theories about the cause of the fires and people peddling fake cures for coronavirus.
The ACMA said fake news on the pandemic had seen people get sick or property damaged.
ACMA may also ask the government to regulate social media. Photo: AAP
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said misinformation online was even more harmful to vulnerable Australians.
“The government expects the digital platforms will work constructively with the ACMA to set up long-term, transparent and accountable practices,” Mr Fletcher said.
He said freedom of speech would still be protected and social media giants wouldn’t become the arbiters of truth.
-with AAP
