Sydney: Australia’s internet safety watchdog has issued a 28-day ultimatum to Twitter, demanding that the platform address “toxicity and hate” or face potential fines. Twitter has become the most complained-about platform in Australia since Elon Musk took over as its owner last year.
Julie Inman Grant, the e-safety commissioner who was once an employee of Twitter, revealed that the social media platform now accounts for one-third of reported complaints related to hate speech in Australia. Twitter has been given a 28-day period to demonstrate its commitment to tackling this issue, failing which it could be fined AUD 700,000 (USD 475,000) per day beyond the deadline. To avoid these penalties, Twitter must present a clear plan outlining the specific actions it will take to prevent online hate and enforce its own regulations.
Grant emphasised the need for accountability and action to protect users, stating that transparency is a crucial component, which legal notices like this are designed to achieve. She also mentioned that worries about rising levels of toxicity and hatred on Twitter, notably directed towards marginalised populations, have been expressed by organisations other than the internet safety authority.
Since Musk assumed control of Twitter in October 2022, he has terminated over 80 percent of the company’s global workforce, including many content moderators responsible for combating abuse. However, the new CEO, Linda Yaccarino, seems to be taking a different approach, expressing her vision for Twitter as the world’s most accurate real-time information source and a global hub for communication.
Additionally, Twitter faced criticism from a European Union commissioner in June for its confrontational stance after withdrawing from a voluntary digital code of conduct. This further highlights the ongoing concerns and challenges surrounding the platform’s management of online content.
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