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(Reuters) Australia’s PM — you’re going to need a Social License to post memes.

Australia announced on Friday that it would hold a parliamentary inquiry to look into the negative impacts of social media platforms, saying they have significant reach and control over what Australians see online, with almost no scrutiny.
The government has criticized social media platforms for not being quick enough to remove violent posts and seeks more oversight over content posted on Meta’s (META.O), opens new tab Facebook, ByteDance’s TikTok and Elon Musk-owned X.

“Parliament needs to understand how social media companies dial up and down the content that supports healthy democracies, as well as the anti-social content that undermines public safety.” — Minister of Communications Hon Michelle Rowland MP.

“We have a clear message for the platforms. Be better. Do better.” “The social media giants seem more determined to wipe trusted news sources from their platforms than scammers and other criminals. This will open the floodgates for misinformation and disinformation.”

Albanese’s Labor government is already in a legal fight with Musk’s X over a regulatory order asking the platform to take down videos of the stabbing attack on an Assyrian church bishop in Sydney last month.

X said it has blocked the posts for Australian users, but Australia’s e-Safety Commissioner says the content should be taken down for all users since it shows explicit violence. Musk has posted memes criticising Albanese, describing the government’s decision as censorship.
The joint parliamentary select committee will also check Meta’s decision to withdraw from paying for news in Australia.
Meta declined to comment on the inquiry.

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