Australian Greens' additional comments

1.1Global giants like Meta continue to operate in Australia and benefit off Australian communities, yet will stop at nothing to ensure they do not have to adhere to Australian laws or give anything back to those they profit off, be it users, journalists, or content creators. What this inquiry has already made abundantly clear is that reform is urgently needed to hold these big corporations to account.

1.2Meta's decision earlier this year to not renew deals under the News Media Bargaining Code is a repeat of their blatant attempt to threaten the Government, news organisations and the Australian public in 2021, by pulling news content off their platforms.

1.3The Government cannot bow to this threat. Meta cannot be allowed to continue to throw its weight around in this country, unfettered by strong regulation.

1.4While the introduction of the News Media Bargaining Code in 2021 was an important step in regulating global platforms and requiring them to pay some of their fair share when it came to news, an ever-evolving digital world means new regulations and reform must be urgently considered. This must include the exploration of laws requiring corporations like Meta to carry news.

1.5An increasing number of Australians get their news from social media platforms, with the University of Canberra Digital News Report 2024 showing almost half of Australians use social media to access news, and two-thirds of Gen Z rely on social media as their main news source, up a huge 17 percentage points in the past year. Many news outlets rely on the funding from online platforms through the News Media Bargaining Code and with the refusal of Meta to renew deals the impact is already being felt with job cuts and outlet closures. The potential for Meta to remove news from their platforms will create a void for mis and disinformation, while in turn their refusal to pay for the news it carries will impact Australian jobs and the quality of public interest journalism in Australia. Tech platforms must be held responsible for creating the very spaces that drive division, abuse and conspiracy theories.

1.6Regulating cowboys like Meta and X is a problem being grappled with globally, with these corporations fighting tooth and nail to protect their profits while throwing user safety under the bus. Issues such as the harms caused by algorithms and data harvesting, scams, mis and disinformation, and the threat to public interest journalism cannot be viewed in isolation.

1.7We need laws that protect Australians from the predatory business models of Meta and other social media platforms. This could include requirements to carry news and information in the public interest, and be taxed properly for their activities and profits on Australian soil.

1.8Above all, the Australian Parliament must have the courage to target big tech where it hurts—their predatory business models that profit off selling Australian users' data, using it to train AI without user consent, and exploiting users' privacy. Young people are particularly vulnerable and at risk. In the UK and EU, we have seen sensible protections that will not only make platforms safer for young people, but for all of us.

1.9While these platforms surpass global borders, they cannot be left beyond the law. They must be held to account and made to pay their fair share and enforce regulations that require them to protect Australians' safety online.

1.10In addition to the recommendations in the majority report, the Australian Greens recommend that:

1.11The Australian Government consider implementing a digital services tax to ensure global giants pay their fair share back to the communities they profit off, similar to those implemented in countries like France and Canada.

1.12The Australian Government prioritise reforms to secure a diverse media landscape in Australia, including finalising the full implementation of the promised News MAP and conducting a Royal Commission into media regulation, concentration and the impact of the Murdoch empire.

1.13The Australian Communications and Media Authority is overhauled to ensure it is fit for purpose and can independently enforce regulation and ensure the safety of Australian communities in a digital age.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

Deputy Chair

Senator for South Australia