Australia warns Twitter with fines over surge in “Toxicity and Hate”

According to Inman Grant, Twitter has a 28-day period to demonstrate its commitment to addressing the issue, or else it could be fined AUD 700,000 (USD 475,000) per day for each day beyond the deadline. In order to avoid this penalty, Twitter needs to provide a clear plan of action outlining the specific measures it is taking to prevent online hate and ensure the enforcement of its own regulations.

“We need accountability from these platforms and action to protect their users. And you cannot have accountability without transparency, and that’s what legal notices like this one are designed to achieve,” said Grant.

Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform in October 2022, he significantly reduced the global workforce by over 80 percent, which included a large number of content moderators responsible for combating abusive content.

In November, Musk announced a wide-reaching amnesty program, enabling tens of thousands of suspended or banned accounts to regain access to the platform.

“Twitter appears to have dropped the ball on tackling hate,” stated Inman Grant, who worked on cyber safety at the company after 17 years at Microsoft.

Inman Grant highlighted that the internet safety watchdog is not the only entity expressing apprehension regarding the rising levels of toxicity and hate on Twitter, specifically aimed at marginalized communities.

Moreover, there are numerous accounts of content that likely violates Twitter’s terms of service remaining easily accessible, which is a cause for concern.

Australia has taken a leading role in the international effort to regulate social media platforms, and this is not the first instance where Inman Grant has publicly criticized Twitter.

In November, Inman Grant wrote a letter to Musk expressing concerns that significant staff reductions could hinder Twitter’s ability to comply with Australian laws.

In May, highly regarded Australian journalist Stan Grant lodged a complaint with Twitter, citing the continuous experience of racial abuse he faced while using the platform.

This month, major music publishers from the United States initiated a legal lawsuit against Twitter, alleging that the platform had failed to effectively prevent widespread copyright infringement.

Furthermore, a European Union commissioner criticized Twitter in June for opting for a confrontational approach by withdrawing from a voluntary digital code of conduct.

(With inputs from AFP)

Updated: 22 Jun 2023, 09:43 AM IST