Australian adults can now complain to the government if they are being harassed on social media.
New laws allow Australia's eSafety Commissioner to force platforms to remove "cyberabuse material" within 24 hours, or face a hefty fine. It's a second option for those dissatisfied with the moderation policies of the platforms.
The amendments to Australia's Online Safety Act were passed by the Australian Senate last June and came into effect on Sunday. If a platform doesn't take down a post within 48 hours of receiving a complaint, the eSafety Commissioner can issue a removal notice.
This doesn't mean Aussies can run to the government about every single objectionable thing they see on the internet. The offending posts have to be misogynist, harassing or offensive, as well as likely intended to cause serious harm to an Australian adult. This means that posts targeting characteristics such as race or gender won't be accepted under this law.
The criteria for determining what falls under "cyberabuse material targeted at the Australian adult" has been set high to ensure it does not stifle freedom of speech.
Australia is at the forefront of the fight against online abuse and harm thanks to the new laws, said eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
If a company doesn't take down a post, they could be fined up to 555,000 dollars. The consequences can be more severe if they refuse.
"If websites or apps systematically ignore notices from eSafety for this type of content, they could see their sites delinked from search engines or their apps removed from app stores," the Australian minister's office said in a media release last December.
Meta indicated an intention to work with the Australian government under the new laws.
Mia Garlick, Director of Public Policy at Meta Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, told Mashable that they have rules in place to help keep their communities safe. We support the introduction of online safety regulation, including Australia's Online Safety Act. We have a long track record of working well with the eSafety Commissioner and we will continue to do so.
The website reached out to the micro-blogging site for comment.
The internet has brought immense advantages, but also new risks, and Australians expect the big tech companies to do more to make their products safer for users.
January 24, 2022, 6:52 p.m. The article has been updated with a comment from Meta.
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