SYDNEY (Reuters) – The Australian government said on Sunday it had dropped plans to fine internet platforms of up to 5% of their global revenues for failing to prevent the spread of misinformation online.
The bill was part of a sweeping crackdown by Australia, where leaders have complained that foreign-based tech platforms are overriding the country’s sovereignty, and comes ahead of a federal election within a year.
“Based on public statements and engagements with senators, it is clear that there is no way to pass this proposal into law through the Senate,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement.
Rowland said the bill would have “ushered in an unprecedented level of transparency, holding major tech companies to account for their systems and processes to prevent and minimize the spread of harmful misinformation and disinformation online.”
About four-fifths of Australians want the spread of misinformation to be tackled, said the minister, whose centre-left Labor government has fallen behind the conservative opposition coalition in recent polls.
The Liberal-National Coalition, as well as the Australian Greens and crossbench senators, all opposed the legislation, Sky News reported.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called the bill a “half-baked option” in comments on the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday. were broadcast.
Industry body DIGI, of which Meta is a member, previously said the proposed regime strengthens an existing anti-misinformation code.
(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
