Announcement date
12 September 2024
Link to announcement
https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/media-release/government-introduce-legislation-combat-seriously-harmful-misinformation-and-disinformation
Problem being addressed
Misinformation and disinformation, rapidly disseminated via digital communications platforms, poses a threat to the health, wellbeing, economy, and democracy of Australia. Misinformation is false information that is spread due to ignorance, or by error or mistake, without the intent to deceive. Disinformation is knowingly false information designed to deliberately mislead and influence public opinion or obscure the truth for malicious or deceptive purposes.
Although the spread of misinformation and disinformation is not a new problem, digital communications platforms have enabled seriously harmful content to be distributed further and faster than previously possible, particularly as Australians are increasingly relying on social media as a source of news.
Proposal
The Impact Analysis considers options to place new core obligations on platforms to increase transparency and better empower users, as well as imposing mandatory requirements for online platforms to address seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation on their services. The proposal also considers options to strengthen the role of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to require improvements and stronger protections where necessary through information powers, code registration and standard making powers. ACMA would play a more active role in encouraging transparency on misinformation and disinformation and potentially imposing more obligations on digital communication platforms. Any additional standards in the future have not been factored into this Impact Analysis.
Assessed Impact Analysis outcome
Exemplary
Assessment comments
The Office of Impact Analysis’ (OIA) assessment is that the quality of the analysis in the Impact Analysis is exemplary. The process followed to develop the Impact Analysis and analysis across the seven Impact Analysis questions was of a particularly high standard. Of particular note, the Impact Analysis includes a:
- clear articulation of the rationale for government intervention and the objectives of the proposed reform
- focus on consultation to considers the perspectives of industry participants and the community
- design and application of an analytical approach suitable for the consideration of complex policy parameters.
The OIA acknowledges the considerable effort, commitment and engagement by DTRDCA in the formulation of this Impact Analysis.
Regulatory burden
DITRDCA estimates regulatory costs in the order of $16.3 million per year over the next 10 years for effected businesses, noting that any additional standards in the future are not included in this regulatory cost.