Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that his government would crack down on internet trolls if re-elected, increasing penalties and strengthening laws that would also deal with the exploitation of children online.
It’s an announcement that falls in line with his government’s promise to do more to police the internet in the wake of the Christchurch attacks, calling on social media giants to be held more responsible for their own platforms.
“As a dad I know first-hand how anxious parents feel about what their kids see & do online & the dangers the internet can bring,” said Morrison.
“Online trolls have no place in Australia & I promise to bring in new laws to protect our kids & keep our community safe.”
“We need the law to keep pace with technology and I want to ensure the courts reflect community expectations about the seriousness of online harassment, abuse and crime.”
The Coalition‘s new policy would see the penalty for using a carriage service to menace – like Facebook or Twitter – increased to a maximum five years jail.
Morrison also said new “aggravated” offences would be introduced for sexual intercourse with children outside of Australia, as well as for providing electronic services to facilitate child abuse material or the “grooming” of third parties.
The announcement demonstrated how a 2020 Coalition Government would plan to bring social media platforms in line, with plans to ensure games and services marketed to children default to restrictive privacy and safety settings. The government also wants to introduce a filtered internet service that parents can use which blocks access to sites flagged by the eSafety Commissioner.
Most of the new changes will be within the Online Safety Act, a single piece of legislation.
While at surface level the policies appear to be aimed at stopping abuse, online they have been criticised by people on both sides of the political spectrum. Some claim the laws could limit free speech, while others have concern over how future bureaucrats might define harmful speech.
