Australia Expands Scope of Online Abuse Prevention Teams
In a recent announcement, the Australian government revealed plans to expand the range of prohibited online content for which platforms can be held accountable. This expansion will include addressing pile-on attacks and damages caused by VR, generative AI, end-to-end encryption (E2EE), and recommendation systems.
The Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, stated that a working document will be published in the first half of this year, along with details regarding the revision of the Online Safety Act 2021 [pdf].
The working document will address online abuse issues that were not previously identified as within the scope of the Online Safety Commissioner’s responsibilities. These include pile-on attacks and damages caused by a wide range of technologies.
The accompanying statement highlights the consideration of additional solutions for online damages associated with various new technologies, including immersive technologies, recommendation systems, end-to-end encryption, and changes in technological models, such as decentralized platforms.
Minister Rowland emphasized the significance of robust legislation pertaining to online safety, stating that “so many aspects of contemporary life occur online, which is why it is crucial that our online safety laws are robust and able to respond to new and emerging threats.”
The addition of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to the list of harmful technologies comes two months after the confrontation between the Online Safety Commissioner, industry associations, and human rights groups regarding the obligations of service providers in detecting illegal materials.
The Commission is also analyzing the issue of “abuse towards public figures and those who are currently required to be present online as part of their work.”
Since its establishment in January 2022, Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has used the Online Safety Act to compel platforms to disclose their efforts in limiting illegal materials and responding to user complaints involving abuse, such as image-based abuse, cyberbullying, and adult cyber abuse.
The statement regarding the revision details also addresses concerns about hate speech directed towards communities. The minister expressed the opinion that legal frameworks should be updated to better address risks associated with generative AI.
“Given the threats posed by hate speech and deepfakes, our laws cannot be static. Therefore, it is important that we continuously update our regulations to protect Australian users,” emphasized Minister Rowland.
In response to concerns that current penalties are insufficient to incentivize platforms to improve their safety measures, Minister Rowland stated that the review of the Online Safety Act will take place a year earlier than required by law.
“The Albanese government has fast-tracked the review of the Online Safety Act to ensure that the Online Safety Commissioner has the necessary powers to protect Australians,” she said.
The review will address questions regarding the broader application of penalties, potential changes to existing powers related to information gathering, investigation capabilities, enforcement tools, fines and disclosure of information, and whether the current obligations and authorities in the act are adequate for the Commissioner to fulfill their duties.
Minister Rowland emphasized that “interested entities, social groups, and industry members are encouraged to provide their opinions as part of the review process, and consultation details will be provided in the coming months.”
Delia Rickard, former Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, will lead the review, which is set to conclude on October 31st and be presented to parliament 15 working days prior to its completion.
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The source of the article is from the blog revistatenerife.com