The Albanese Labor government has initiated a public consultation on expanding the Online Safety Act to address online hate and artificial intelligence, with the aim of ensuring the safety of Australians. Labor Communications Minister Michelle Rowland highlighted the government’s focus on strengthening the Act to protect citizens and opened a consultation on April 29 to explore the need for additional powers to combat new and emerging online harms.
The review will specifically examine issues such as online hate, pile-on attacks, artificial intelligence-generated hate content, and the online abuse of public figures. This development comes in the midst of the Australian government’s dispute with Elon Musk over the distribution of footage depicting a violent incident in Sydney.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing online safety for Australians. The government’s statutory review, led by Delia Rickard, aims to ensure that the Online Safety Act remains effective in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The review will consider various aspects, including penalties, industry compliance with child protection measures, and international best practices.
The consultation paper released by the government seeks feedback from Australians on potential amendments to the Online Safety Act to address online harms not covered by existing regulations. It will also explore the need for measures to tackle online abuse of public figures, AI-facilitated gender violence, generative artificial intelligence, and end-to-end encryption. Additionally, the review will assess the powers of the e-Safety Commissioner, the scope of penalties, and the introduction of a duty of care requirement.
The comprehensive review will evaluate the Act’s regulatory mechanisms, enforcement procedures, and potential gaps, taking into account global trends in online safety regulation. The consideration of imposing a duty of care on online platforms towards their users is also on the agenda.
Moreover, the consultation paper highlights the prevalence of online abuse targeting public figures, particularly women, minority individuals, and advocates. The impacts of online abuse, such as trolling, stalking, and harassment, on public figures’ professional and personal lives are underscored, with instances where online abuse has tragically led to suicide.
Overall, the Albanese government’s efforts to strengthen the Online Safety Act through a thorough review process reflect its commitment to safeguarding Australians in an ever-evolving online environment. Please rewrite this sentence.
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