Yahoo Finance Facebook, Google should be 'ashamed' of poor user protection
Social media giants should be “ashamed” of doing the bare minimum to protect people online, and are facing sweeping new laws to do the job for them.
A new report recommends major changes to Australian online laws to stamp out cyberbullying, revenge porn, and harassment of people of all ages.
Former top public servant Lynelle Briggs’ report recommends a fundamental shift – holding technology companies accountable to laws online, just like laws apply in the real world.
She singled out social media giants for doing the bare minimum by signing up to the weaker second tier of Australia’s voluntary compliance regime.
“Companies with the reputations, influence and resources of Facebook, Google+, Instagram and YouTube should be ashamed that they did not sign up for the tier one,” Ms Briggs said in her report.
“This leaves the strong impression that these companies could easily be doing much more to remove harmful material voluntarily at source.
“I consider that they have a social and moral obligation to do so.”
Because of their weak responses, Ms Briggs says Australia needs to put the pressure back on technology companies to take responsibility for the images and words they deliver to people.
That could include immediately removing illegal material, and could mean taking down cyberbullying within 24 hours.
“The level of industry commitment to online safety is fragile and unreliable, and needs to be shored up by being given a legislative basis,” she said.
Current online harassment laws mainly apply to children, but Ms Briggs believes they should also apply to adults after hearing evidence from high profile women, journalists, indigenous people and families of rape and murder victims.
Technology companies should also publicly report on their targets in taking down offending material and how they measure up.
Internet and content service providers and platforms did not escape, with the report author shooting down their arguments that they are not responsible for the content they carry.
“Similar arguments from the financial services industry about them not being responsible for downstream fees, services and contracts have been blown out of the water by the royal commission on financial services,” she said.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield on Saturday released a draft Online Safety Charter for public consultation, along with the Briggs report.
“It is important that we be clear with industry about what we expect from large technology firms that have such a significant influence in our economy and community,” Mr Fifield said.
Ms Briggs wants new laws operating by the end of the year.
