Keyboard lions may have their days numbered in Australia.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has proposed a series of regulations aimed at reducing online bullying, especially that perpetrated by anonymous accounts.
As ABC News Australia explains, the law would hold social media platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter, responsible for defamatory comments made against users. Social networks should also make clearer menus available to subscribers, with which to denounce the digital violence suffered, whether it is bullying or outright defamation. As part of this process, the person who posted the potentially defamatory content will be asked to remove it. But if he refuses, or if the victim is interested in pursuing legal action, the platform may ask for the sharing of contact information, name, surname and telephone number. The submission of the details to the Federal Court of Australia would only take place after the green light of a court.The proposal will be published in draft form this week and will be presented to Parliament early next year. Morrison said he wanted to bridge the gap between real life and the online debate: "The rules that exist in the real world must also apply in the digital world."
That the law can be implemented is likely, given that even the opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, said he was in favor: "It should not be beyond the ability of social media to identify users who behave inappropriately online. people must not hide behind anonymous Twitter accounts to tarnish or disturb others. "
