Millions of Australians rely on social media networks like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for staying up to date with news, friends, family and the wider world. But these powerful big tech platforms are driving the spread of disinformation and hate speech like a wildfire engulfing Australia’s democracy.

While Australia has been an early mover on reform for online safety and digital media, it lags on key aspects of regulating digital platforms.

The Human Rights Law Centre has provided a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into the influence of international digital platforms, calling for four key recommendations:

1. The Federal Government should move away from self-regulatory and co-regulatory models for digital platforms, by replacing existing co-regulatory codes and ensuring new regulations are written by legislators or regulators.

2. The Federal Government should introduce a comprehensive digital regulatory framework for Australia, focused on transparency and risks arising from platforms’ systems and processes.

3. Parliament should consider mechanisms for enhancing parliamentary scrutiny of digital regulation, such as the establishment of a dedicated committee for digital affairs, and for improving the coordination of tech policy across government.

Read the Human Rights Law Centre’s submission