November 24th 2024.
Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, has announced that the government has officially abandoned its highly controversial "misinformation bill". This bill, which aimed to tackle the spread of false information online, faced strong opposition from the Coalition, Greens, and several crossbenchers, making it impossible for it to pass through the Senate.
In her statement today, Rowland confirmed that the proposed legislation would no longer be pursued as there is no viable way to push it through. She went on to say, "The government extends an invitation to all parliamentarians to collaborate with us on alternative proposals that will strengthen our democratic institutions and protect Australians online, while also preserving values such as freedom of expression."
Under the bill, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) would have been granted the power to impose significant fines on tech companies that failed to monitor and address misinformation and disinformation on their platforms. These penalties could have amounted to two percent of a company's global turnover, or five percent in cases of repeated offenses. This meant that companies like Meta (formerly known as Facebook) could have faced astronomical fines of over $8 billion.
When the bill was first introduced, Rowland emphasized the need for a balance between protecting citizens from fake news and upholding their right to free speech. However, the government did not clarify whether the bill would also cover satirical or parody content on news sites, as well as academic or religious material. This raised concerns among critics about potential censorship.
In light of this decision, the government has not yet revealed any alternative plans to address the issue of misinformation online. But with the rise of fake news and its potential impact on society, it is clear that this is a problem that will need to be addressed in the near future.
For now, Australians can stay informed and up-to-date with all the latest news, sports, politics, and weather by downloading the 9News app. Available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, this app sends notifications straight to your smartphone, making it easier to stay connected and informed wherever you are.
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