<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/we-do-not-have-takedown-powers-regulator-powerless-against-the-flood-of-energy-misinformation/>
"Public hearings for the Senate Committee on Information Integrity in Climate
Change and Energy resume this week, as the battle over truth in the energy
transition intensifies.
Chaired by Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, the inquiry is investigating how
misinformation and disinformation are shaping Australia’s response to the
climate crisis and the shift to renewable energy.
The committee has already received 237 submissions and heard from scientists,
bureaucrats and digital experts. Now, as hearings resume, the cross-party panel
returns to the central question: how to protect democracy — and the clean
energy transition — in an age of weaponised misinformation.
The appearance of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at
the last hearings underscored just how powerless the federal regulator is in
the face of coordinated misinformation campaigns amplified by algorithms.
Currently, ACMA’s role in monitoring digital platforms is limited, as these
platforms are only bound by a voluntary code of practice.
During a pointed exchange between Senator David Pocock and ACMA staff, the
weakness of Australia’s safeguards was laid bare when the regulator admitted
its framework was built for a broadcast era now overwhelmed by digital
falsehoods.
Senator David Pocock: “So you have no powers to enforce removal of content that
is demonstrably false? You cannot compel a social media platform to take down
climate-related misinformation?”
ACMA representative: “That is correct. Our powers relate to broadcasting
services and certain content codes; we do not currently have statutory takedown
powers over user-generated content on social media platforms.”
“It seems extraordinary,” said Senator Pocock. “You say you’re charged with
‘information integrity’ in this inquiry, yet you are powerless to act when
falsehoods about the energy transition circulate freely online. That gap is
part of the problem we’re here to address.”
Several submissions and witnesses to the Senate inquiry have highlighted the
failure of Australia’s current legal framework to keep pace with the problem."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
