Australia’s new law could force Facebook, Google to strip content

Australia’s government has passed legislation to reduce cyber abuse, allowing it to force social media platforms such as Facebook and Google to remove harmful material within 24 hours or be fined as much as $415,000.

The Online Safety Bill will also require internet-service companies to provide identity and contract information about abusers on their platforms. Developed in response to the live-streamed terrorist attacks in New Zealand in 2019, the bill gives the nation’s eSafety Commissioner powers to rapidly block websites.

“The act provides stronger powers for the eSafety Commissioner to crack down on cyber-bullying of children, toxic online abuse, harmful content and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images,” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said in a statement on Wednesday. He said the bill's powers will be enforced after six months.

The bill strengthens penalties for online abuse and harassment, including up to five years imprisonment. The law will also require companies to keep an updated Online Content Scheme to do more to keep users safe online and give the eSafety Commissioner powers to require app stores to remove products enabling the provision of harmful kinds of online content.