The Minister for Communications, Hon Michelle Rowland MP, has tabled the Report of the Statutory Review of the Online Safety Act 2021.
The independent review examined the operation and effectiveness of the Act and considered whether additional protections are needed to combat online harms, including those posed by emerging technologies.
The report makes 67 recommendations to strengthen Australia’s online safety laws, including changes to existing complaints schemes for those experiencing online harms, stronger penalties for non-compliance by online services, increased transparency requirements for online services, and changes to governance arrangements for the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
“The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring the online world is a safe experience for all,” says Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP.
“Our Government has been proactive in ensuring our legislative framework remains fit-for-purpose. That’s why we’ve wasted no time in committing to legislate a Digital Duty of Care to place the onus on online services to keep their users safe.”
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In line with a key recommendation of the review, the Government has already committed to legislate a Digital Duty of Care. This will put the legal onus on platforms to keep users safe and help prevent harm.
The Albanese Government announced the independent review in November 2023, bringing forward its commencement by a year.
Completed by Delia Rickard PSM, the review was informed by extensive stakeholder engagement, including 72 meetings with industry, civil society, academia, law enforcement, and domestic and international government bodies. The review also considered over 2,200 responses submitted through public consultation.
“We are committed to strengthening our online safety laws to protect Australians – particularly young Australians,” she concludes.
The Government is continuing to carefully consider all recommendations put forward in the report and will respond in due course.
Read the final report here.
Adrianne Saplagio is a Content Producer at Comms Room, where she combines her passion for storytelling with her expertise in multimedia content creation. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for engaging audiences, Adrianne has been instrumental in crafting compelling narratives that resonate across various digital platforms.
