Australia announced a parliamentary inquiry on Friday to investigate the negative effects of social media platforms. The government is concerned about the platforms’ immense influence and lack of oversight regarding content moderation.
“Social media can be very positive,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, “but it can also have a negative influence, and this keeps coming up across various issues, from domestic violence to youth radicalization.”
This move comes amidst a legal battle between the government and Elon Musk’s X platform. The government issued a takedown order for videos of a violent attack on a Sydney church bishop, but X claims it has already blocked the content for Australian users. Australia argues the graphic content should be removed globally.
The inquiry will also examine Meta’s (formerly Facebook) decision to stop paying Australian news outlets for their content.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized the need for greater understanding. “We need to know how these companies manage content that supports democracies and how they handle harmful content that threatens public safety,” she said. “This inquiry will allow parliamentarians to scrutinize these companies and propose ways to hold them accountable.”
The specific details of the inquiry, including its scope and potential witnesses, are still being determined.
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