Misinformation bill: Greens put nail in the coffin, confirm they will not support Labor’s proposed laws
A federal government push to stem the flow of deliberate lies online is dead in the water after the Greens said they wouldn’t support it.
Labor’s proposed laws don’t effectively address the social media algorithms that fuel misinformation and put the onus on technology giants to decide what is true and false, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“We know that mis- and disinformation, and the prolific spread of harmful content is doing harm across the world,” the party’s communications spokeswoman said in Canberra on Friday.
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“The bill fails to tackle the real problems: the profiteering of the big tech companies on the very content that harms and creates distress for parents and young people.”
If the government wanted to tackle the issue, it must focus on the business models of social media companies, she said.
Under the proposed laws, the communications watchdog would be given powers to monitor and regulate content on digital platforms.
Social media companies would be put on notice for failing to address deliberate lies spread on their platforms.
However, the regulator wouldn’t have the authority to issue take-down notices for individual posts as the bill focuses on systemic issues in the online sphere.
The legislation has already been lashed by the opposition and members of the crossbench as an attack on free speech.
But the Greens’ decision to block the bill puts the final nail in the coffin, sending another Labor proposal into political purgatory.
The government had hoped to pass an environment law overhaul, two housing bills, a proposal to cap international student arrivals and more during this term.
But it can’t drum up the support it needs, and time is running out.
There is only one more sitting week left in the 2024 year, ahead of a federal election that must take place by May.
The Greens have put forward offers on some bills and Senator Hanson-Young said her door is open for further discussions.
