Australia has doubled the maximum penalty for social media platforms that fail to remove violent or extremist content, escalating a global push to hold technology companies accountable for material published on their services. The move, announced by the Australian government on Wednesday, raises the maximum fine from AUS $555,000 to AUS $1.1 million for egregious breaches of the country's Online Safety Act.
The legislation, which came into force in 2021, requires platforms to expeditiously remove “abhorrent violent material” such as terrorist propaganda and live-streamed attacks. Non-compliance can result in criminal penalties for senior executives of technology companies.
Australia's decision comes amid a broader reassessment of regulatory frameworks for social media. In London, a senior UK government official confirmed that the British government is considering similar measures as part of its ongoing Online Safety Bill, which is currently before Parliament. The bill includes provisions for fines of up to 10% of global turnover for platforms that persistently fail to tackle illegal content.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, welcomed the increased penalty, stating that it “sends a clear signal” to major technology firms. “We have seen platforms take days or weeks to remove content that is clearly violent and harmful. This penalty is a proportionate response to systemic failures,” she said.
Industry response has been mixed. The Digital Industry Group Inc, which represents companies including Google, Meta, and Twitter, warned that the revised penalty could lead to “over-censorship” and urged greater clarity on what constitutes “abhorrent violent material”. A spokesperson for the group said that platforms already invest heavily in content moderation but that “blunt instruments” risk unintended consequences.
The UK’s proposed legislation has attracted similar criticism. Civil liberties groups and technology companies have argued that the bill gives the government excessive power to compel platforms to remove content deemed harmful, potentially infringing freedom of expression. However, ministers have insisted the bill includes robust safeguards and oversight.
Australia has been at the forefront of social media regulation. In 2020, it enacted the world’s first law requiring platforms to pay news publishers for content. The doubling of fines for violent content represents the latest escalation in a trend that is likely to be emulated by other democracies.
The UK government is expected to publish further details of the Online Safety Bill’s penalties next week. The bill has been subject to repeated delays and amendments, raising questions about its final shape. But the Australian move provides a concrete example of the direction of travel.
Analysts note the divergence in approach between the Anglosphere and the European Union, which relies on the Digital Services Act to impose obligations on large platforms. The EU’s framework focuses on systemic risk management and transparency, rather than specific content takedown orders.
For now, Australia’s increased penalty will take effect immediately, with the government vowing to enforce it rigorously. The UK will watch closely as it finalises its own legislation.
