Australia to Enforce Tough Fines on Tech Giants Over Misinformation

Australia plans to impose fines of up to 5% of global revenue on internet platforms that fail to curb misinformation. The proposed legislation targets false content impacting public health, election integrity, and critical infrastructure, and aims to enforce a code of conduct by tech giants. Free speech advocates are concerned.

Australia has announced plans to impose hefty fines—up to 5% of global revenue—on internet platforms that fail to combat the spread of misinformation. This move aligns with a global trend to regulate tech giants but has drawn criticism from free speech advocates.

The government will require tech companies to establish codes of conduct for handling misinformation, subject to approval by a regulator. Failure to create or adhere to these codes will result in regulatory standards being set and enforced, along with financial penalties for non-compliance.

The legislation, set to be introduced in parliament, specifically targets false content that jeopardizes election integrity, public health, and critical infrastructure. This initiative forms part of a broader regulatory effort by Australia, coming ahead of its federal election. Major platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have expressed concerns or taken steps in response to these regulations.

(With inputs from agencies.)