Australia has announced plans to double the maximum penalty for social media companies that fail to remove harmful content, a move that underscores a broader shift towards digital sovereignty. The legislation, expected to be tabled in parliament next week, would increase fines from 5 million Australian dollars to 10 million Australian dollars, or 2 per cent of global annual turnover, whichever is greater. The amendment follows a year-long review of the 2021 Online Safety Act, which critics argued lacked sufficient deterrent for platforms such as Meta and X.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, stated that the revised penalty structure is intended to “send a clear message that compliance is not optional.” The legislation also introduces a new requirement for platforms to proactively identify and remove terror-related content within 60 minutes, mirroring standards set by the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Across the Pacific, the United Kingdom is examining similar measures. A Whitehall source confirmed that the Online Safety Bill, currently in its final parliamentary stages, may be amended to include provisions for enhanced penalties and sovereignty-focused clauses. These would empower UK regulators to hold foreign tech companies accountable for breaches of British law, even if the content is hosted overseas. The move reflects a growing consensus among Western democracies that existing frameworks are inadequate for addressing the extraterritorial reach of major technology firms.
Legal experts have noted the convergence of Australian and British approaches. “Both jurisdictions are grappling with the same problem: how to enforce domestic law in a digital environment that respects no borders,” said Dr. Emily Harbisher, a media law professor at the University of Sydney. “The doubling of penalties is not just a deterrent but a statement of intent.”
The Australian announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Digital rights group Electronic Frontiers Australia warned that the legislation could encourage over-censorship, while the Australian Human Rights Commission expressed concern over due process. Conversely, the UK’s Centre for Social Justice applauded the move as a necessary step to protect children and national security.
The British government is expected to present its amendments before the summer recess. A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “The UK is committed to creating the safest online environment in the world. We are considering all options to ensure our laws are robust and enforceable.”
This co-ordinated push for digital sovereignty signals a new phase in the relationship between states and technology platforms. As both Australia and the UK move to tighten penalties, the implications for global tech companies are profound. Compliance costs are set to rise, and the risk of reputational damage from non-compliance is growing. The legislation may also serve as a template for other nations, particularly within the Commonwealth, seeking to assert control over their digital domains.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the UK’s ambition matches Australia’s resolve. What is clear is that the era of self-regulation for social media giants is drawing to a close. Governments are no longer content with voluntary codes of conduct. They are legislating for sovereignty and they are raising the stakes.
