Security News > 2021 > November > Australia will force social networks to identify trolls, so they can be sued for defamation

Australia's government has announced it will compel social media companies to reveal the identities of users who post material considered defamatory.

Just how social media companies will be made to identify users was not explained, nor has a bill been posted that would shed light on how the law would operate - but an "Exposure draft" of the law was promised "In the coming week" ahead of a consultation process.

Whether the bill will apply to existing social media accounts was also left unexplained, as was how social media companies could be treated if users provide false contact information or let contact details lapse over time.

Social media companies are, at the time of writing, silent on the matter.

Attorney-general Michaelia Cash argued that ruling leaves any Australian organisation at the mercy of trolls who, by posting defamatory content to an organisation's social media presence, could smear their target but leave the organisation liable for their comments.

If social media companies are treated as publishers, but publishers are shielded from the consequences of troll posts, what is the net effect?

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/11/29/australia_troll_bill/