The Australian government announced Sunday that it is abandoning proposed legislation aimed at forcing social media companies to regulate misinformation and disinformation on their platforms. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland stated that the legislation would not proceed due to a lack of support in the Senate. "There is no pathway for this legislation," Rowland said, according to local broadcaster SBS News. The now-abandoned bill would have empowered the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to monitor digital platforms and require companies to maintain records on misinformation and disinformation. However, opposition from the coalition, the Greens, and several independent senators left the governing Labor Party unable to secure the necessary votes for its passage. While the misinformation bill faltered, a separate proposal to ban children under 16 from accessing social media is set to move forward. The measure, designed to address online harm among minors, is expected to pass parliament next week with bipartisan support. Critics, including tech companies and human rights groups, have expressed concerns about the ban, arguing that the focus should be on creating a safer online environment rather than restricting access to the potential benefits of social media. — Agencies
