Global tech

Had enough of Facebook? Here’s how to give your social media a Spring clean

- February 18, 2021 4 MIN READ

In denying news content to its Australian users, Facebook is arguably overplaying its hand, behaving as a big company that thinks it can intimidate governments. If it keeps doing this, it will ultimately lose customers, and that’s the last thing Facebook wants. Perhaps you’re already considering breaking up with Facebook, whether in reaction to the… Read more »

Donald Trump
Global tech

Social media v free speech: A note to Australian politicians – no, you don’t have a right to incite

- January 13, 2021 4 MIN READ

The recent storming of the US Capitol has led a number of social media platforms to remove President Donald Trump’s accounts. In the case of Twitter, the ban is permanent. Others, like Facebook, have taken him offline until after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week. This has led to a flurry of commentary in the… Read more »

Global tech

It took a riot in the US capitol for Facebook and Twitter to finally tackle Donald Trump head on

- January 8, 2021 4 MIN READ

Amid the chaos in the US Capitol, stoked largely by rhetoric from President Donald Trump, Twitter has locked his account, with 88.7 million followers, for 12 hours. Facebook and Instagram quickly followed suit, locking Trump’s accounts — with 35.2 million followers and 24.5 million, respectively — for at least two weeks, the remainder of his… Read more »

Global tech

That TikTok video: it’s time social media stepped up to collaborate on removing harmful content

- September 9, 2020 4 MIN READ

A disturbing video purporting to show a suicide is reportedly doing the rounds on the popular short video app TikTok, reigniting debate about what social media platforms are doing to limit circulation of troubling material. According to media reports, the video first showed up on Facebook in late August but has been re-uploaded and shared… Read more »

Topics

A NSW court has confirmed that media companies are responsible for defamatory comments posted on Facebook

- June 3, 2020 3 MIN READ

Part of growing up is learning to take responsibility for the hurtful things you say. As a person who often says stupid things, I often need reminding. Defamation law reflects that lesson. When you say something that hurts another person, it can cost you. A recent decision has stretched this commonsense intuition. According to the… Read more »

Christian Porter
Topics

Australia’s Attorney-General says social media should be held as legally accountable as publishers

- November 20, 2019 2 MIN READ

Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms should be treated as publishers, Australia’s Attorney-General Christian Porter believes, making them potentially liable for any defamatory comments published on the sites. The country’s senior lawmaker’s view is that “the playing field is not at all fair at the moment” for traditional media companies when it comes to… Read more »