The Australian government has abandoned its proposed legislation that aimed to combat online misinformation, following strong opposition and lack of Senate support.
The controversial bill would have imposed hefty penalties on digital platforms, including fines of up to 5 percent of their global revenue, for failing to prevent the spread of misleading content online. Under the proposed law, the Australian Communications and Media Authority would have gained powers to establish and enforce rules targeting misinformation on digital platforms.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland acknowledged that the bill lacked sufficient backing in the Senate to move forward. The legislation had aimed to increase transparency and hold tech companies accountable for their content moderation practices.
The bill faced sharp criticism from various quarters. Most notably, X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk denounced it as "Fascists" in a brief but pointed social media post. Opposition Communications Minister David Coleman strongly opposed the measure, warning it would lead platforms to suppress legitimate speech to avoid financial penalties.
Following the bill's withdrawal, Coleman celebrated the development, characterizing the proposed legislation as an assault on free expression that undermined democratic values. He called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to reject any similar legislative attempts in the future.
While stepping back from the misinformation bill, the government maintains its focus on online safety through other initiatives. Rowland indicated plans to pursue alternative measures, including rules around deep fake content, political advertising truth standards, and artificial intelligence regulation.
The Albanese government is also exploring additional online safety measures, including a potential ban on social media access for users under 16 years old.