The Australian government has more than doubled the maximum penalty for social media platforms that fail to remove harmful content, raising the fine from A$555,000 to A$10 million. The move, which also applies to companies that do not swiftly take down terrorist or violent material, has sparked calls for the UK to adopt similar measures. Labour MP Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said the Australian penalty increase was a “welcome step” and urged the UK government to “get serious” about holding tech giants accountable.
Under current UK laws, the maximum fine for such breaches is £500,000, a figure campaigners argue is too low to deter multinational corporations. The announcement comes as the UK’s Online Safety Bill, which includes provisions to fine companies up to 10 per cent of global turnover, remains stalled in parliament. Critics say the delay has left British internet users exposed to dangerous content.
TechUK, the industry body, warned that excessive penalties could stifle innovation, but victim support groups retorted that tech firms have had years to clean up their act. The prime minister’s spokesperson said the government was “monitoring international developments” but gave no commitment to following Australia. For working families, the price of inaction can be measured in lost lives, from online radicalisation to cyber bullying.
The real economy is not just about wages and bills, it is about safety in the digital marketplace. Australia has set a benchmark. Now Britain must decide whether to match it or let its citizens pay the price.
