2024-09-12
Responding to reports regarding the introduction of new mis and dis information legislation today, the Greens say the public interest must come before the interests of big tech corporations.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for Communications, Manager of Business in Senate:
“Trump’s America has supercharged the serious dangers of mis and disinformation to democracy and public discourse, health and safety. It’s clear that the global tech giants are unwilling to act in the public interest without strong regulation and enforcement.
“The Greens will look at the Government's bill and we will make sure they've got it right this time. With both the US election and the looming Federal Election here in Australia, we must ensure that the community is protected from the vicious and deliberate spread of information designed to trick, manipulate and harm the community.
“We want to see the tech giants regulated properly with the onus on them to make their platforms safe. Australia is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to holding the big social media companies to account for protecting users from harm.
“We will consider the details of the Government’s legislation and ensure it's properly assessed through a Senate Inquiry.
“Of course, social media is not the only place mis and disinformation spreads like wildfire.
“False and misleading information is regularly published in mainstream media outlets - from climate change denial to the voice referendum to the Covid-19 pandemic - and that should be addressed too.
“We need to see a crackdown on the profit-making outrage factories of the Murdoch Media as well as the tech giants."