Image: Shutterstock/Vasin Lee Image: Shutterstock/Vasin Lee AUSTRALIA HAS RUSHED in new laws which could see tech companies fined billions of dollars for not removing violent content from their sites in a timely fashion.
Companies who fail to “take timely action in relation to abhorrent violent material” will face fines of billions of dollars – up to 10% of their annual turnover – while company executives could face up to three years in prison. It’s completely unacceptable the initial footage of the Christchurch terrorist attack was up online for 69 minutes before it was taken down. That has to change. pic.twitter.com/fynjFQMDzNTech companies and organisations in Australia, however, have warned the “knee-jerk” move by the Australian government would have unintended consequences.
“Announcing measures such as jailing staff at social media companies is inappropriate for a democracy such as Australia, and does not help the debate or solve the issue,” she said.