Fed gov opens social media probe

The federal government has made the move to open a joint parliamentary select committee into the influence and impacts of social media on Australian society.

The government has already begun to push back on social media companies such as Meta, which recently pulled revenue for Australian news publishers for content

On Friday it was announced the federal government will consult with the Parliament before moving ahead with a referral next week.

The Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland and the Treasury said in a joint statement “social media companies play a role in determining what content Australians are exposed to online.”

“Their decisions in recent months – particularly Meta’s decision to withdraw from paying for news in Australia – demonstrates the negative impacts these companies can have on our society,” the statement said.

“Social media has a civic responsibility to its Australian users – and our society more broadly.”

The joint parliamentary select committee aims to make social media companies “more transparent and accountable to the Australian public”.

“Among other matters, the government expects the Committee will examine and report on”

“The decision of Meta to abandon deals under the News Media Bargaining Code;

“The important role of Australian journalism, news and public interest media in countering mis and disinformation on digital platforms;

“The algorithms, recommender systems and corporate decision making of digital platforms in influencing what Australians see, and the impacts of this on mental health; and

“Other issues in relation to harmful or illegal content disseminated over social media, including scams, age‑restricted content, child sexual abuse and violent extremist material.”

Rowland said, “Social media is how millions of Australians connect, access news and run small businesses.

“These social media companies have enormous reach and control over what Australians see with little to no scrutiny.

Rowland added, “In our democracy, it is imperative that Australians have access to quality public interest journalism, including on social media. Unliteral decisions to undermine news hurts us all.

“Social media companies have social responsibilities. They need to be more accountable and transparent.

“Parliament needs to understand how social media companies dial up and down the content that supports healthy democracies, as well as the anti‑social content that undermines public safety.

“Establishing this inquiry will provide opportunity and resources for parliamentarians to closely scrutinise these companies and make recommendations on how we can make these platforms for accountable for their decisions,” said Rowland.

Assistant treasurer and minister for financial services, Stephen Jones also added social media users are “exposed to harm in an environment where it can be difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.”

Jones said the “social media giants” appear to be “determined to wipe trusted news sources from their platforms than scammers and other criminals.”

“We have a clear message for the platforms. Be better. Do better.

“The committee will put big tech under the microscope to help create a safer online environment,” Jones concluded.

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