An Australian cyber regulator announced that it has requested Twitter clarify its approach towards addressing online hate, considering it has become the platform with the highest number of complaints in the country since its reported 62,000 account bans were lifted by new owner Elon Musk.
Australia Warns Twitter of Legal Consequences as Online Hate Surges
Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has criticized Twitter for its failure to effectively address online hate, referring to the platform as a "bin fire." In response, she issued a legal notice on Twitter, demanding an explanation of the actions being taken to combat this issue.
Inman Grant highlighted that Twitter has received more complaints regarding online hate in the past year compared to any other platform, and the number of complaints has increased significantly since Elon Musk's takeover of the company in October.
Expressing concern over the growing prevalence of online hate, Inman Grant stated, "We are seeing a worrying surge in hate online," and she emphasized Twitter's apparent shortcomings in addressing this problem.
As Twitter slashed its global workforce from 8,000 to 1,500, including reductions in trust and safety teams, and terminated its public policy presence in Australia, the surge in complaints has coincided with these actions.
In November, Elon Musk announced a general amnesty, resulting in the reinstatement of approximately 62,000 previously banned or suspended users on the platform, including 75 accounts with over 1 million followers.
Despite concerns expressed by Australian Communication Minister Michelle Rowland regarding the removal of Twitter's Australian presence, the company has not responded.
The eSafety Commissioner described the reinstatement of the "worst of the worst" accounts as having a disproportionately negative impact on the toxicity of Twitter.
Labeling Twitter as an "absolute bin fire," she expressed her concerns over the deteriorating state of discourse on the platform.
Inman Grant emphasized that if Twitter intends to continue its services in Australia, it must adhere to Australian laws. She has been collaborating with regulators globally to encourage platforms to enhance their standards.
Twitter As the Most Hateful Platform After Musk’s Takeover
Twitter has recently faced criticism from various sources regarding its handling of hate speech and its impact on marginalized communities. Last month, the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Glaad designated Twitter as the most hateful platform towards the LGBTQ+ community.
"This level of online abuse is already inexcusably high, but if you’re a First Nations Australian, you are disabled or identify as LGBTIQ+ you experience online hate at double the rate of the rest of the population," Inman Grant also stated.
Research conducted by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) based in the U.K. revealed a concerning trend on Twitter. Prior to Elon Musk's takeover of the platform, slurs against African Americans appeared approximately 1,282 times per day on average. However, after Musk's involvement, this number more than doubled to an average of 3,876 times per day.
Furthermore, the CCDH discovered that Twitter's enforcement of rules governing online hate seemed to exhibit leniency towards users who paid for a Twitter blue tick verification, granting them a certain level of impunity. Additionally, these verified users' tweets received preferential treatment from the platform's algorithms, resulting in increased visibility.
Another concerning finding was reported by the Anti-Defamation League, which noted a significant increase of over 61% in antisemitic posts referencing Jews or Judaism within just two weeks after Musk's acquisition of Twitter.
Australia Gave Twitter 28 Days to Tackle Online Hate
If Twitter does not provide a response to the eSafety request within the designated 28-day period, the company could be subjected to significant financial penalties of up to approximately $700,000 per day for ongoing violations.
In the past, Inman Grant issued similar notices to Twitter, Meta, and other platforms, in August of the previous year and January of the current year. These notices requested that the companies clarify their strategies for addressing online child abuse on their platforms. While Twitter did respond to the notice, Inman Grant has not yet commented on whether the response was deemed satisfactory.
A spokesperson stated that eSafety is presently evaluating the responses to those notices and anticipates sharing appropriate information in the future.
Misbar’s Sources:
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