Sydney: Australia’s government said on Sunday it has dropped plans to fine internet platforms up to 5% of their global revenue for failing to curb the spread of online misinformation.
The bill was part of a broader regulatory crackdown by Australia, where leaders have complained that foreign-owned tech platforms are overriding the country’s sovereignty, and comes ahead of a federal election in a year.
“Based on public statements and engagements with senators, it is clear that there is no way the Senate will pass this proposal into law.” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement.
Rowland said the bill would usher in “an unprecedented level of transparency, including a major overhaul of their systems and processes to prevent and reduce the spread of harmful misinformation and disinformation online”.
Some four-fifths of Australians want to address the spread of misinformation, 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 government bill a “half-baked option” in televised remarks on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday.
Industry body DIGI, of which Meta is a member, earlier said the proposed regime strengthened the existing anti-disinformation code.
