Australia Considers Rules For Social Media Platforms To Take Responsibility For Defamatory Content

JAKARTA - The Australian government is considering a series of actions that would make social media companies more accountable for defamatory material published on their platforms. The plan was released by Communications Secretary Paul Fletcher on Sunday, October 10.

"We expect a stronger position from the platform," Fletcher said in an interview at the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "For a long time, they have gotten away with not taking any responsibility with respect to the content published on their site."

Intensifying debate over the country's defamation and defamation laws, Prime Minister Scott Morrison last Thursday called social media a "palace of cowards", saying platforms should be treated as publishers when defamatory comments by unknown persons in a post .

Fletcher said the government was looking at that option and the general extent of responsibility for platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, when defamatory material was published on their sites.

Asked if the government would consider legislation that would fine social media platforms for posting defamatory material, Fletcher said the government was considering "a wide range of" action.

"We will see. We will go through a careful and methodical process," he said. "In a variety of ways, we are cracking down on the idea that what is posted online can be posted with impunity."

The country's highest court last month ruled that publishers could be held liable for public comments on online forums, a decision that pitted Facebook and news organizations against each other.

It has also spread the alarm among all sectors engaged with the public through social media and, in turn, has given new urgency to an ongoing review of Australia's defamation laws.