Australia Introducing Legislation That Forces Social Media Platforms to Unmask Online Trolls

[Tsing]

Online trolling could soon carry severe consequences in Australia. As reported by Reuters, Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed today that the government will be introducing legislation that would force social media platforms to give up the identities of users who post inflammatory comments or engage in other sorts of trolling behavior. Users who believe they are being targeted by trolls will be able to get even via a complaints mechanism.



From Reuters:



The new legislation will introduce a complaints mechanism, so that if somebody thinks they are being defamed, bullied or attacked on social media, they will be able to require the platform to take the material down.If the content is not withdrawn, a court process could force a social media platform to provide details of the commenter.



“The online world should not be a wild west where bots and bigots and trolls and...

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[GunShot]

Ahh... a hidden "trolling exposure" campaign that's really designed to just violate users' expression to appease the snowflakes that could gang all up on a person and they all fake report a user (just be disliking them or their minds are too sensitive for the topic) in the name for an internet utopia because a utopia internet mirrors our real lives, eh?!

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[Brian_B]

Yeah can't say I'm onboard with this either. Trolling is bad, but so is doxing. Two wrongs =/= right.

Is there a reason the standard banhammer isn't enough anymore? I was always a fan of the shadow ban - where the said troll could still post and respond, just the posts would be auto-hidden from others unless approved by a moderator. Sometimes it would take a bit for said troll to figure it out without inside help - they wouldn't know until a few trollish comments went by without causing the usual ****storm.

 

[Grimlakin]

Well right now we know very little. It could be as simple as a troll gets a warning. Of course with VPN's and multiple fake accounts trolling will still happen.

 

[MadMummy76]

The problem is that some consider inconvenient facts or criticism as trolling.

What's next compelled speech and ministries of truth?

 

[Denpepe]

Is there a reason the standard banhammer isn't enough anymore? I was always a fan of the shadow ban - where the said troll could still post and respond, just the posts would be auto-hidden from others unless approved by a moderator. Sometimes it would take a bit for said troll to figure it out without inside help - they wouldn't know until a few trollish comments went by without causing the usual ****storm.

Sounds pretty labor intensive for something like facebook or some of the other big players.

Over here the governement is going after people who are posting openly racist stuff or deaththreats etc.. not everything should be allowed under the free speech monniker.

 

[Dan_D]

I'm starting to hate Australia. It's turning into a communist ****hole at warp speed. All I can think of concerning this news is this:

 

[MadMummy76]

Sounds pretty labor intensive for something like facebook or some of the other big players.

Over here the governement is going after people who are posting openly racist stuff or deaththreats etc.. not everything should be allowed under the free speech monniker.

Death threats are entirely another thing it is not mere trolling, it is a call or declaration to do something illegal.

I don't think merely saying something 'racist' should be considered a crime. I mean under the thumb of the woke left merely stating statistical facts can be considered openly racist. Or even acknowledging that the police should go after criminals regardless of their race.

 

[Uvilla]

One person's troll could be another person's opinion.. thats the issue.., what is a troll?, I know some are obvious... Im sure many will not be. That and the fact that they will let ' magical' algorithms do everything without any humans reviewing a thing.

 

[Grimlakin]

One person's troll could be another person's opinion.. thats the issue.., what is a troll?, I know some are obvious... Im sure many will not be. That and the fact that they will let ' magical' algorithms do everything without any humans reviewing a thing.

It will become a battle like antivirus. Where people will learn how to circumvent the automated filters to continue to be trolls. Unless there is an actual enforceable punishment.

Plus.. what is to stop trolls from using a free vpn to appear to be coming from france as an example and do their trolling?

"Wasn't be boss.. I'm in Australia. Where was this person logged in from?"

"They were using your account."

"Oh crap I better change my password."

 

[Axle Grease]

"If the content is not withdrawn, a court process could force a social media platform to provide details of the commenter."

Only for Aussie based social media. For anything else, the court will just have to post its demands in capitalized big red lettering... underlined and bold, even.

 

[Grimlakin]

"If the content is not withdrawn, a court process could force a social media platform to provide details of the commenter."

Only for Aussie based social media. For anything else, the court will just have to post its demands in capitalized big red lettering... underlined and bold, even.

Especially troublesome when the GDP of Australia is less than what Apple, OR Microsoft are worth. So I'm sure Facebook is fine.

 

[Zarathustra]

I'm torn on this one.

I'm a firm believer in the absolute right to anonymity online.

That said, trolls can be really annoying and ruin a good community.

Isn't it sufficient to just ban trolls instead?