Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has expressed concerns about the way in which social media companies allow the promotion of harmful and divisive content, wanting more oversight over social media algorithms to combat online abuse. 

Representatives from the Department of Home Affairs – who are responsible for cyber security and social cohesion – will front a parliamentary inquiry into online safety today.  

The inquiry is part of the Australian Government’s proposal to introduce new laws that would force social media platforms to take down offending posts and even reveal the identity of anonymous posters under certain circumstances. 

Upon its submission to the committee, the Department of Home Affairs referenced former Facebook employee Frances Haugen’s testimony to the United States Senate.

Last year, Ms Haugen revealed to the public that digital platforms were – sometimes knowingly – promoting harmful and divisive content through algorithms and prioritising company growth over public safety.  

“The department has significant concerns about the far-reaching consequences that persuasive design and algorithms have for both individual users and social cohesion more broadly,” the submission said.  

The Department of Home Affairs is in the process of developing new regulations and will overlook how other jurisdictions manage social media issues. 

This includes improving the transparency and oversight of how big tech companies such as Google and Meta use algorithms and compelling them to disclose internal data.   

In January, employees from Meta – the company behind Facebook – told the committee safety was at the core of the business.  

Policy head Mia Garlick said any reports Facebook put profits above the safety of their users were “categorically untrue”. 

The committee, which will also hear evidence from the AFL, is due to present a final report to parliament by mid-February. 

With AAP

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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