Australia: Introduced Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 including content moderation authority governance

On 12 September 2024, the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 was introduced into the Australian Parliament. The Bill grants the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) expanded authority to oversee digital platforms' efforts in addressing misinformation and disinformation. The ACMA is empowered to establish digital platform regulations and standards with the objective of combating misinformation and disinformation. Furthermore, the ACMA is permitted to request reports from digital platforms concerning their efforts to address these issues. This may include the requirement for platforms to maintain records of misinformation and submit periodic reports. The ACMA is also authorised to enforce compliance through warnings, remedial directions, and penalties in the event that a platform fails to meet its obligations. Additionally, the ACMA is able to approve and oversee industry-developed misinformation codes and, if necessary, establish binding standards where codes are inadequate. Furthermore, the ACMA is able to publish information about platform performance on its website to ensure public accountability.