‘Big tech on notice’

Global social media platforms should effectively be bound by Australian laws, says a federal parliamentary inquiry.

Released this week, the final report of the joint select committee on social media recommends the Australian Government amends regulation and legislation “to effectively bring digital platforms under Australian jurisdiction”.

The committee heard that regulation must take into account the continuously evolving nature of digital platforms, “which may fall in and out of regulatory definitions”.

However, the committee failed to endorse the prime minister’s proposal for a social media ban for under-16s – but it is in favour of the government exploring further how such a policy would be enforced.

In a statement, deputy committee chair and Greens spokesperson for communications voiced scepticism that such a ban would work in practice. “Forcing companies to provide a safe product is a smarter approach than banning students from YouTube,” she said. 

Whether or not a ban is introduced, the report’s authors noted “all inquiry participants were strongly of the view that it should not be seen as a single solution to all of the harms that can occur online”.  

The select committee’s final report also recommends social media platforms – such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok – introduce measures that allow users greater control over the content they see “by having the ability to alter, reset, or turn off their personal algorithms and recommender systems”.

“The committee heard that social media companies use opaque algorithms that keep users scrolling, continuously feeding them what they think they want to see, even if it’s harmful,” said committee chair and federal member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon.

Addressing an enforcement of a duty of care, the committee backed a requirement for digital platforms “to implement diligent risk assessments and risk mitigation plans to make their systems and processes safe for all Australians”.

Hanson-Young is supportive of the move. “These corporations have a duty to ensure their product is not doing systemic harm to our democracy or our kids,” she said, adding: “The government is moving in the right direction with a digital duty of care.” 

There should also be more intensive research and data gathering on the impact social media has on people’s health and wellbeing. As well, the committee is calling on government to involve young people in the co-design of a regulatory framework.

In all, the committee – tasked with examining the impact of social media on Australian society – makes 12 recommendations. These follow the 11 laid out in the second interim report.

“Taken together, they address the complexity of the problem, recognise the value of both social media and public interest journalism in Australian society, and work to keep Australians safe online,” said Claydon.

Tabled before parliament on Monday, the select committee’s final report puts big tech on notice, she said. “Social media companies are not immune from the need to have a social licence to operate.”