Trolling and social media conflict

When the prospect of an eSafety Commissioner was initially discussed it was dismissed by some in the industry, with the executive officer of Electronic Frontiers Australia, Jon Lawrence stating

'It's not clear to us that creating any new legislation, or any new bureaucracy is really going to be helpful in this context.'

(Carrick 2014).

How wrong he was, it was announced in June 2020, after a busy year that funding for the program would increase with the government announcing an additional $10 million boost (Fletcher 2020). In 2020 the program saw a 600 per cent increase in reports of image-based sexual abuse over the Easter long weekend and with a 90 per cent success rate for getting images and videos off websites (Long 2020), they are doing an excellent job protecting Australians online.

Our current approach to ‘governing’ online behaviour and social media practice is certainly good. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is actually world’s first government agency solely dedicated to tackling online abuse and keeping its citizens safer online (eSafety 2021). However, there is always room for improvement. The sheer volume of reports in online abuse during the pandemic is testament to that. As our world moves increasingly online, so too does the need for increased online protection. I know as a mother I welcome the thought of a Social Media Ombudsman.

Both the government and social media platforms will inevitably play a role in everyone’s lives whether we like it or not. At times their interests overlap, when campaigning for example or during times of crisis the government needs social media to communicate in this day and age. So too does social media need the government, as in some nations the use of Facebook is banned by governments. In Australia the government and social media platforms largely get along and use one another as required. An impartial ombudsman who could create and uphold policies to help with our online safety would only increase Australia’s standing as a world leader in online safety.

As a world first initiative the role of the eSafety Commissioner helps Australia two-fold, in turn so too would a social media Ombudsman. The first benefit is in the here and now, which helps those people in need who are currently dealing with issues that arise from online platforms. The real benefit will be seen in generations to come, as what is happening now sets the standard for online communication.

Whilst some might worry an Ombudsman is too much, personally I think that if you don’t want to see the eSafety Commissioner and a social media ombudsman in action, you really need to ask yourself why. What are you doing online that has you worried? Are you the internet troll?

#socialmedia #government #trolls #onlinesafety

References

Carrick, D. 2014, Can a cyber-bullying commissioner protect our kids?, ABC Radio National, viewed 23 August 2021, <https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/5286036>.

eSafety 2021, International leadership and collaboration, eSafety, viewed 23 August 2021, <https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/tailored-advice/international>.

Fletcher, P. 2020, $10 million boost to vital eSafety support, The Hone Paul Fletcher MP Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, viewed 23 August 2021, <https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/fletcher/media-release/10-million-boost-vital-esafety-support>.

Leskin, P. 2019, Here are all the major US tech companies blocked behind China’s ‘Great Firewall’, Business Insider, viewed 23 August 2021, <https://www.businessinsider.com.au/major-us-tech-companies-blocked-from-operating-in-china-2019-5?r=US&IR=T >.

Long, C. 2020, Coronavirus shutdown prompts spike in reports of sextortion to eSafety Commissioner, ABC News, viewed 23 August 2021, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-03/spike-reports-esafety-commissioner-coronavirus-shutdown/12314442>.