Canberra’s warning for Facebook

FEDERAL Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says social media giants have been getting away with “not taking any responsibility” for content posted on their sites for “too long”, and will seek to hold them to greater account.

Appearing on Insiders on ABC on Sunday, and after a call by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (pictured) for a social media crackdown, Mr Fletcher said Facebook should be held to g r e a t e r account.

When asked if he agreed that Facebook should be treated as a “p u b l i s h e r ” , which would mean it was treated like a newspaper or television station and held liable for what is shared on its website, he ummed and aahed before agreeing.

“That is one of the options that’s under consideration, among others could be, ‘ what is their responsibility to support a private litigant who brings action?’ ” he said.

Renewed conversation about online trolls and the role of websites has been brought back into the spotlight after Mr Joyce’s daughter was the subject of trolling, with “completely and utter fictitious rumours” she was in a relationship with the former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro.

Mr Joyce said the allegations were what sparked his call for the ability to fine social media companies.

“You can’t say that, ‘my platform is a vessel of free speech’, then the people who speak on that vessel don’t give their names, they don’t identify who they are and you therefore allow people to stand on that platform and throw bricks at motorists,” he told Radio National.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said social media had become a “coward’s palace”.

“People can go on there, not say who they are, destroy people’s lives, and say the most foul and offensive things to people, and do so with impunity,” Mr Morrison said.

“Now that’s not a free country where that happens.”

The High Court has ruled that media outlets can be sued for defamatory comments made by users on articles shared to the outlet’s page.