Terror off the tube

Bill forces social media giants to take down violent footage

HARSH penalties for social media companies that broadcast terrorist attacks have cleared Federal Parliament, with Labor supporting new laws but vowing to revise them if they win the next election.

The Morrison Government announced the changes after the Christchurch terror attack, in which 50 people were killed, was broadcast live by the shooter on Facebook.

Under the proposed measures, executives of social media companies such as YouTube and Facebook could face jail and companies would be breaking Australian law if they did not take down footage of terrorist acts immediately.

“The events of Christchurch have shown us that internet platforms can be used to spread messages of hate and terror,” Attorney-General Christian Porter told Parliament yesterday. “This Bill forms an important part of the Australian Government’s response to these events.”

The legislation was introduced and cleared the Senate on Wednesday night, leaving the Government one day to secure its passage through the House of Representatives before next month’s election.

Labor’s shadow attorneygeneral Mark Dreyfus told the Lower House the Opposition would back the laws but he said they were not happy about the “ridiculous timeline” they had to consider them.

He said tech giants must do more to deal with violent content on their platforms but that hundreds of smaller companies will also be captured by the Bill’s “onerous obligations”.

The laws might also hamper whistle-blowing activities, he said.

Greens MP Adam Bandt whacked Labor for helping to pass the Bill.

“We have a very significant Bill that is being rushed through before this Parliament rises and Labor is going along with it,” he said.

The Law Council had urged politicians to slam the brakes on the changes.