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A year after introducing the voluntary misinformation code, the Digital Industry Group (DIGI) launched its first review of the code. It had also produced its first annual report on the code’s operation.
Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, and Twitter are among the signatories to the code, which took effect in February 2021.
The organization promised earlier this year to analyze the code and propose guidelines to improve the next batch of yearly transparency reports. It just engaged an independent reviewer to fact-check the transparency reports of all signatories before they are published.
In the report, DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose said that the organisation invites views from the public, civil society, and government to improve the code.
Bose said, “Sustained shifts in the fight against misinformation and disinformation must rely on a widespread and multi-stakeholder approach.”
Meanwhile, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) praised the report and urged for “a robust measurement framework to track platform and industry performance” over time.
ACMA encouraged DIGI to consider its findings, including recommendations on making commitments opt-out rather than opt-in, the expansion to private messaging, and the revision of its definitions.
Tech giants have already expressed their disapproval of many recommendations to improve it.
DIGI have also rejected ACMA’s inputs in its discussion paper. DIGI believes that flexibility is essential and that corporations should be required to examine which results should apply to them regularly.
The DIGI paper said, “Five out of the eight signatories have currently opted into all of the measures set out in the code. DIGI’s experience is that this flexibility was key to securing the commitment of diverse signatories to the code.”
ACMA said that the definition of misinformation and disinformation, which requires “serious” and “imminent” threat, prevents the code from addressing more harms online.
DIGI said it based the definition on the ACCC’s digital platforms inquiry.
“The difficulty with that approach is that it is extremely difficult for platforms to foresee when an accumulation of instances of misinformation on a given topic is likely to result in harm that may be years or decades away,” DIGI added.
DIGI also objected to including private messaging in the code, claiming that it would compromise users’ privacy.
In its discussion paper, DIGI said, “In our view, the scope of the existing laws do not indicate that there is any need for digital platforms to undertake voluntary intrusive monitoring of users’ private communications beyond those given to enforcement agencies.”
The former Coalition government promised to give ACMA considerable enforcement powers over the law, including the authority to compel tech companies to pass over data on their performance.
On the other hand, New Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has chastised the Coalition for announcing the new powers so late in its mandate.
Rowland said, “The government waited until the dying days of the 46th parliament to flag a process to ‘scope’ ACMA powers, nine months after the ACMA recommended legislation in this area and almost three years since the ACCC recommended an enforceable code for disinformation and misinformation.”
Submissions for potential changes to DIGI’s code are open until 18 July.
Read also: Reset Australia urges Facebook to do more in tackling misinformation (commsroom.co)
Jaw de Guzman is the content producer for Comms Room, a knowledge platform and website aimed at assisting the communications industry and its professionals.
