Australia’s plan to waive fines for social media giants that allow false information

SYDNEY (Reuters) – The Australian government said on Sunday it had dropped plans to fine internet companies up to 5% of global revenue for failing to curb the spread of false information online.

The bill was part of a wider crackdown on Australia’s laws, with leaders complaining that foreign-owned technology platforms are encroaching on national sovereignty, and comes ahead of a federal election within a year.

“Based on public statements and discussions with Senators, it is clear that there is no way to pass this proposal through the Senate,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement.

Rowland said the bill would “introduce an unprecedented level of transparency, hold big tech to account for their systems and security practices and reduce the spread of dangerous misinformation and disinformation online”.

Four out of five Australians want a crackdown on the spread of misinformation, said the minister, whose far-left government fell behind the opposition coalition in the last election.

The Liberal-National coalition, along with the Australian Greens and crossbench senators, all opposed the legislation, Sky News reported.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called the government’s bill a “half-baked option” in comments broadcast to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday.

Industry body DIGI, of which Meta is a member, previously said the proposed regime strengthened the existing anti-falsification code.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)