Victoria unveils new powers to unmask anonymous social media accounts accused of vilification
New laws will help to identify anonymous users in a pivotal move to safeguard children
The Victorian government announced proposed, nation-first laws under which social media companies could be forced to identify the hidden individuals behind accounts accused of online vilification.
Under the new rules, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan announced a collection of social media reforms today, adding that families are seeking novel strategies to protect their children in digital spaces.
In this connection, opposition has suggested that the laws might not see the light of day before November’s state election despite Allan urging, they will be introduced as a priority.
The state government will also lower the legal threshold for suing social media and artificial intelligence platforms over negligence leading to psychiatric harm in children.
Currently, the laws require families to prove a child has a permanent disability of at least 10% before pursuing damages. The significant changes would limit suits brought on behalf of minors while keeping the threshold in place for adult victims.
An associate professor, Marilyn Bromberg at the University of Western Australia who specializes in the external regulatory framework of online spaces said the changes were a crucial step in the right direction.
“It’s a brave start, but I don’t think it goes far enough,”
“The harms that social media can cause young people have been substantiated by compelling, peer-reviewed research,” she added.
Marilyn further asserted that strong protections are ideal for preventing risks pointing to Australia’s world-leading minimum age requirements for social media as a primary example.
It has been observed that social media companies have been navigating escalating legal battles brought by families internationally.
Nonetheless, a US jury found Google and Meta legally responsible in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit touted by some as a defining moment in the global backlash against the platform's impact on youth mental health.
