Australia has shelved a proposed law that would have imposed fines of up to 5% of a social media company’s annual earnings for failing to curb misinformation. The decision came after the bill failed to secure enough support in the Senate, AFP reported.
“Based on public statements and engagements with senators, it is clear that there is no pathway to legislate this proposal through the Senate,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement on Sunday.
The proposal had drawn backlash from tech industry figures, including Elon Musk, who labeled the government’s stance as “fascist.”
Despite abandoning the bill, Australia continues to focus on online safety. A new proposal aims to ban social media use by children under 16. According to AFP, non-compliance could lead to fines exceeding $30 million.
