Australia: Announced legislation increasing ACMA powers to combat harmful online misinformation and disinformation

On 20 January 2023, the Australian Government announced it will introduce new legislation to grant powers to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to regulate digital platforms and combat harmful misinformation and disinformation in Australia. The ACMA will be given new information-gathering and record-keeping powers to enhance the transparency of digital platforms in responding to misinformation and disinformation on their services. Furthermore, ACMA will gain new powers to impose a compulsory code of conduct against misinformation on digital platforms.