Labor MP Andrew Charlton has expressed concerns about the potential harm caused by misinformation on digital media platforms. Speaking during a debate in Australia’s House of Representatives on the proposed Misinformation Bill, Charlton commended the Albanese Labor government for taking steps to combat misinformation and disinformation online. He highlighted the impact of misinformation on democracy and individuals, referencing research from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) that revealed four out of five Australians had encountered COVID-19 misinformation since the pandemic began.
Charlton emphasized the urgency of addressing misinformation, stating that lives could have been saved if not for its prevalence. He also linked misinformation to political polarization in the Western world and emphasized the need for action.
The discussion centered around the Labor government’s Communications Legislation Amendment (Combating Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill, which aims to curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The proposed bill grants additional powers to ACMA to penalize social media platforms like Facebook, X (previously Twitter), and TikTok. These powers include record-keeping requirements, the development of a sector-wide code of practice, and the potential implementation of an industry standard overseen by ACMA.
The bill defines misinformation as false, misleading, or deceptive online content that may cause serious harm despite not being created with the intent to deceive. Disinformation, on the other hand, is defined as misinformation with a deliberate intent to deceive.
The issue of misinformation has gained significant prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, with debates over the efficacy of drugs like hydroxychloroquine. While authorities such as the World Health Organization and the U.S. National Institutes of Health initially rejected the use of hydroxychloroquine, evidence has emerged that challenges their stance.
During the debate, Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman raised concerns about the government’s bill, citing its vagueness as potentially leading to censorship. He criticized the exceptions within the bill and argued that they could introduce bias into the definition of misinformation. Additionally, he highlighted the lack of an explicit definition for “serious harm” and expressed concerns about exemptions for content authorized by government bodies.
Coleman called for the Albanese Labor government to withdraw the bill and moved a motion to that effect.