Australia to Make Internet Companies to Provide Internet Data

Australia's media regulator can now force internet companies to provide internal data on how they dealt with false and misinformation as the government's latest move to crack down on Big Tech.

Australia's Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) can also enforce the internet industry code on non-cooperative platforms, the federal government said, joining governments around the world to reduce the spread of harmful and false information online.

The laws align with efforts to curb the damaging content online, which can take effect by the end of 2022. The European Union has also said that it wants even tougher measures to stop the spread of misinformation given some claims by Russian state-owned media during the invasion of Ukraine.

The proposed laws are a response to an ACMA report, according to which four-fifth of Australian adults experience misinformation about COVID-19 AND 76% have thought that online platforms should do more to cut the amount of false and misleading content shared online.

The report also found that disinformation, including deliberately disseminating false information to influence politics and disperse discord, continues to target Australians. Facebook said it had removed four disinformation campaigns in Australia between 2019 and 2020.