The Australian government has withdrawn its misinformation bill, which could have fined online platforms up to 5% of global revenue for failing to curb misinformation.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland acknowledged the lack of Senate support despite the bill's aim to increase transparency and hold tech companies accountable. Privacy-Focused Apps: Reclaim Your Data provides further context on data privacy concerns.
Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), had labeled the bill "Fascists," while Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman criticized it as an attack on free speech. Nebius AI: From Yandex to AI Cloud Powerhouse offers insights into the role of AI in online content moderation.
With the bill withdrawn, the government now seeks support for other online safety measures, including legislation targeting deepfakes, truth in political advertising, AI regulation, and a potential social media ban for children under 16. For more on platform regulation, see Pixel Tablet's Future Uncertain.