An Australian regulatory authority focused on cybersecurity issued a formal request to Twitter on Thursday, seeking clarification on how the platform is managing incidents of online hate. This move comes in the wake of Twitter becoming the most reported platform for grievances since Elon Musk, the new owner, reinstated approximately 62,000 previously banned accounts.
This initiative is part of a broader effort led by the eSafety Commissioner to enhance accountability for the microblogging site. Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion in October, pledging to reinforce the platform’s dedication to free speech.
The regulator has previously prompted Twitter to provide information regarding its treatment of child abuse material, which the Commission claims has increased on the platform since Musk’s acquisition, along with significant reductions in staffing, especially in content moderation.
Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, indicated that she has issued a legal notice to Twitter, highlighting that one-third of the complaints she has received about online hate pertain to the platform. This is particularly notable given that Twitter’s user base is smaller than that of TikTok or Meta’s Facebook and Instagram.
Inman Grant stated, “Twitter appears to have dropped the ball on tackling hate,” mentioning that many of the 62,000 reinstated accounts included those of individuals who promote Nazi ideologies.
“We require accountability from these platforms and measures to protect users. Transparency is essential for accountability, and legal notices like this aim to achieve that,” she added.
Twitter has been given a window of 28 days to respond to the eSafety Commissioner’s inquiry, failing which it risks incurring penalties approaching A$700,000 (approximately $473,480 or Rs. 3.8 crore) daily. The platform chose not to comment when approached by Reuters.
This call for transparency and accountability arrives at a time when Australia is gearing up for a referendum regarding the recognition of Indigenous peoples in its constitution, igniting a nationwide conversation about race issues.
In a related development, well-known Indigenous television presenter Stan Grant referred to targeted harassment on Twitter when he recently announced his hiatus from the media. Similarly, the National Indigenous Television network revealed that it would be stepping back from Twitter, citing the “racism and hate that we experience every day on this platform” in a tweet last month.
Inman Grant’s communication emphasized the need for Twitter to clarify its impact evaluations when reinstating banned accounts, its methods of engagement with communities facing online hate, and how it is upholding its policies against hateful conduct.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
