Requiring Big Tech to enforce its own safety standards is among the key recommendations of the report by the Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety into online harms on social media platforms, which has been released today.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 15 March 2022

Requiring Big Tech to enforce its own safety standards is among the key recommendations of the report by the Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety into online harms on social media platforms, which has been released today. In its unanimous report, the Committee found that the safety of people online is being threatened by individuals who engage in harmful behaviour and conduct. The harms experienced by victims of online abuse leave a long trail of trauma and suffering, as expressed by many witnesses in evidence to the Committee. Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP said, the evidence received by the Committee highlighted the necessity of a three-part response: social media platforms focusing on user safety and enforcing their policies; the Government appropriately regulating and monitoring the sector; and users understanding that while respectful dissent and disagreement is a part of online discourse, abuse isn’t, and it should not be tolerated. 'The recommendations in this report are an important next step in making our online world and social media platforms safer for all,' Ms Wicks said. 'The Australian Government is leading the world in online safety, but technology and online predators evolve quickly, so the Government must continue to hold social media companies to account and support victims of abuse. 'For too long social media platforms have been able to ‘set the rules’, enabling the proliferation of online abuse. The balance of responsibility for the safety of users online, which until recently has been primarily on users, must be ‘flipped’ to ensure that social media platforms bear more of the burden of providing safety for their users. 'To protect Australians, social media companies have to take responsibility to enforce their terms of service, prevent recidivism of bad actors, prevent pile-ons or volumetric attacks, prevent harms across multiple platforms and be more transparent about their use of algorithms. 'The inquiry has also focused on what more can be done to address individual actions and behaviours online by building on the eSafety Commissioner’s existing education programs and government awareness campaigns to give Australians, and especially children, more information about how to safely engage in online discourse.' Key recommendations include: The establishment of a Digital Safety Review to review all online safety legislation and government programs, with a view to simplify regulations into one framework and make recommendations to the Australian Government on potential proposals for mandating platform transparency; Requesting that the eSafety Commissioner examine the extent to which social media companies enforce their policies in relation to users experiencing harm, in addition to requiring them to report to Government regarding reducing harm caused by their algorithms; Addressing technology-facilitated abuse in the context of family and domestic violence, including the recommendation of significant additional Australian Government funding for support services; Mandating that all social media companies set as a default the highest privacy settings for people under the age of 18 years; and Increasing the reach of educational programs geared at both adults and young people regarding online harms, with a focus on the eSafety Commissioner’s powers to remove harmful content and the mechanisms through which victims can report harmful content and online abuse. Ms Wicks thanked the witnesses and submitters who provided evidence to the inquiry, and in particular noted the bravery and resilience of victims of online abuse who shared their stories with the Committee. Ms Wicks further expressed her thanks to her fellow Committee members, including the Deputy Chair, Tim Watts MP, for their thoughtful and constructive engagement throughout the inquiry. Over the course of the three-and-a-half-month inquiry, the Committee held eleven public hearings with nearly sixty witnesses, and received over 100 submissions from individuals, organisations and government bodies. Further information about the Committee and a copy of the report can be found on its website. While the report is unanimous, Labor Members and Mr Kelly also provided additional comments on the Committee’s findings. Media enquiries Charlotte Bowcock Office of Lucy Wicks MP 0417 042 308 charlotte.bowcock@aph.gov.au For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4781 smos.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website.

The House of Representatives today resolved to extend the reporting date for the Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 15 February 2022

The House of Representatives today resolved to extend the reporting date for the Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety. Accordingly, the Committee has reopened submissions and is calling for interested parties to provide evidence by Tuesday, 8 March 2022. The Committee is particularly interested in hearing from young people (aged 13-18) or their representatives on their experiences with social media and online safety, and their perspectives on how online harms might be addressed. Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP expressed her thanks to all witnesses who have so far provided submissions and appeared at public hearings, stating that the powerful accounts of online abuse have highlighted to the Committee the importance of its work. The Committee has so far conducted nine hearings with over fifty witnesses, and received over seventy submissions from individuals, organisations and government bodies. Further hearings are being considered for coming weeks. The Committee is now required to provide its final report to the Parliament on 15 March 2022. Further information about the Committee can be located on its website. Media inquiries Charlotte Bowcock Office of Lucy Wicks MP charlotte.bowcock@aph.gov.au 0417 042 308 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4781 smos.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Media_and_Online_Safety. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

Social media and technology industry giants Google, Meta, TikTok and Twitter will be appearing at public hearings examining online safety matters with the House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety. These hearings will be held on Thursday, 20 January 2022 and Friday, 21 January 2022.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 20 January 2022

Social media and technology industry giants Google, Meta, TikTok and Twitter will be appearing at public hearings examining online safety matters with the House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety. These hearings will be held on Thursday, 20 January 2022 and Friday, 21 January 2022. Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP said that these hearings will enable the Committee to scrutinise the industry’s response to online harms and abuse faced by everyday Australians. ‘The Committee’s early hearings received powerful evidence from people who have experienced different types of online harm, and in these hearings the Committee can examine how the industry intends to move forward and protect its users’, Ms Wicks said. Other witnesses across the two days include further stakeholders from the technology sector, including the Digital Industry Group (DIGI), Reset Australia and the Centre for Digital Wellbeing. The Committee will also hear evidence from academics and researchers, mental health organisations and government agencies. Programs for both hearings can be found on the Committee’s website. The Committee will hold further hearings in coming weeks. Submissions have closed, and the Committee is reviewing evidence received in from the community in addition to evidence gathered in the public hearings. The Committee anticipates tabling its final report in the Parliament by 15 February 2022. Media inquiries Charlotte Bowcock Office of Lucy Wicks MP charlotte.bowcock@aph.gov.au 0417 042 308 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4781 smos.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Media_and_Online_Safety. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety is commencing its public hearings on Tuesday 21 December 2021 and Wednesday 22 December 2021.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 21 December 2021

The House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety is commencing its public hearings on Tuesday 21 December 2021 and Wednesday 22 December 2021. Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP said the hearings present an opportunity for the Committee to hear from a wide range of interested parties on matters relating to social media and online safety, with the focus in the initial hearings being on groups who can share their experiences of online harms. ‘Online safety is a significant issue for a range of groups and individuals across the Australian community, and the Committee will hear evidence from a variety of witnesses,’ Ms Wicks said. Witnesses across the two days include advocates for children’s safety, including the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and the Carly Ryan Foundation. The Committee will also hear from representatives of minority groups, faith organisations and the Let Her Speak campaign. Programs for both hearings can be found on the Committee’s website. Public hearings are anticipated to continue in January 2022, with further dates to be advised soon. The closing date for submissions is 12 January 2022. The Committee’s findings from hearings and submissions will be contained in its report, to be tabled in the Parliament by 15 February 2022. Media enquiries Charlotte Bowcock Office of Lucy Wicks MP charlotte.bowcock@aph.gov.au 0417 042 308 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4781 smos.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety has opened for submissions and invites all interested people and organisations to have their say.

Media release issue date: Monday, 13 December 2021

The House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety has opened for submissions and invites all interested people and organisations to have their say. Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP said that the Committee looks forward to hearing from a wide range of stakeholders for the inquiry. ‘Given the complexity and importance of this topic, the Committee hopes that people will share their experience and their suggestions on how Parliament might address online risks to Australians,’ Ms Wicks said. The closing date for submissions is 12 January 2022. The Committee will soon schedule public hearings and will table its report in the Parliament by 15 February 2022. Media enquiries Charlotte Bowcock Office of Lucy Wicks MP charlotte.bowcock@aph.gov.au 0417 042 308 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4781 smos.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.