Social media companies would have to protect Australians from harm or face massive fines under a review of online safety laws.
A report will be released by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland on Tuesday, after it was provided to the government last October.
Labor last year committed to legislate a digital duty of care, which places the legal onus on platforms to keep users safe online.
The review’s 67 recommendations include simplifying definitions to online platforms search and app distribution services in a bid to better reflect safety risks and future proof the legislation.
It identifies particular harms such as child sexual exploitation and abuse, threats to kill, or attacks on groups of people to be highlighted for attention under a duty of care.
Threats to national security and social cohesion were also listed as harms to be placed at the forefront of action.
Tech giants with the greatest reach should be made to complete a risk assessment at least every 12 months, and produce an annual report detailing their risk mitigation actions.
People experiencing cyber abuse, or children on the receiving end of cyberbullying should only need to wait 24 hours, down from 48, following a complaint to a platform before eSafety is able to issue a removal notice.
The maximum penalty a court can impose should be increased to five per cent of global annual turnover or $50 million, whichever is greater.
It’s unlikely the government will respond to the review this fortnight of parliamentary sittings, as it intends to consult with stakeholders.
Ms Rowland said the government had been proactive in ensuring the legislative framework remained fit-for-purpose.
“We are committed to strengthening our online safety laws to protect Australians – particularly young Australians,” she said.
Labor late last year rushed through laws banning children under 16 from social media, including fines of up to $49.5 million for companies breaching the age limit.
The statutory review of the online safety laws was brought forward by a year.
The proposal for a digital duty of care would bring Australia into line with approaches to online safety made by the United Kingdom and Europe.
