Australians have until February 14 to comment on the federal government's draft online safety bill that mandates the removal of "seriously harmful" content on websites, social media or other online services.
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The proposed legislation empowers the eSafety Commissioner to direct online service providers (globally), to take down seriously harmful content within 24 hours.
Such content may involve image-based abuse, sex-based extortion, revenge porn, cyberabuse and cyberbullying. Civil penalties of up to $550,000 could apply for companies who ignore take-down notices and $111,000 for individuals.
Service providers could be directed to hand over identifying information of offending individuals who use anonymous accounts, pseudonyms and fake profiles.
Australian ISPs could be asked to block access to sites that host child sexual abuse, terrorist or extremely violent material (including live-streaming), and ensure best practice technology is offered to protect children from accessing seriously harmful content.
Robust and contested free speech should be encouraged and upheld in Australia, but being manevolently trolled online to death or psychologically injured as a consequence of unfettered speech is never acceptable.
Online hate goes well beyond individuals "taking the piss". It's vicious, malicious, harmful and often relentless. It can significantly impact one's mental health and wellbeing, and trigger self-harm, suicidal intensity and death by suicide.
Evidence suggests that online hate relates to sadism and low empathy, and perpetrators' self-esteem can be reinforced by hurting others (March and Steele, 2020).
The Australia Institute (2019) estimates that online harassment and cyberhate costs the economy $3.7 billion annually in health costs and lost income.
More than one in three internet users surveyed reported they had experienced online harassment or abuse.
Taken together, the online safety bill is an important step to ensure basic e-safety for all Australians.
Seriously harmful content has for too long been allowed to permeate social media, without transparency, accountability or significant consequence for either its author or host digital provider.
Our words matter.
If you or anyone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978, Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or Hunter Mental Health on 1800 011 511.
Dr Michael Walton is a Lambton psychologist
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