Arabic version: تأجيل تنفيذ واجب الرعاية الرقمية لوسائل التواصل الاجتماعي
According to ABC News,
A mandated digital duty of care for social media platforms remains more than 18 months away, according to testimony at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. This requirement, which aims to ensure that platforms proactively manage the risk of harm to users, was recommended in a review of the Online Safety Act conducted in 2024.
During the commission’s hearings, public servant Sarah Vandenbroek from the Department of Infrastructure addressed concerns about the lengthy timeline for implementing the recommendations. She stated that the department is adequately resourced but faced delays due to a change in minister following an election.
Counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC highlighted the frustrations of the Jewish community regarding the delays in the implementation of the digital duty of care. He noted that significant online hate impacts Jewish Australians, and the community has expressed an urgent need for better regulation.
Vandenbroek confirmed that a legislative draft for the digital duty of care is in progress, with expectations to introduce the bill by the end of the year. However, she indicated that it would take an additional 12 months after that for the legislation to come into effect.
The commission also examined the lack of a definition for online hate in the Online Safety Act, a recommendation from the Rickard review that has yet to be addressed. Vandenbroek acknowledged her unawareness of the community’s strong views on this issue until the royal commission proceedings began.
