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Lucy Wicks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Lucy Wicks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
06 December 2021 Posted by 

Lucy Wicks will chair inquiry into toxic social media platforms

MEMBER for Robertson Lucy Wicks will put big tech under the microscope including toxic material on social media platforms when she chairs a Parliamentary inquiry into the industry next year.
The Inquiry was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher.
 
The inquiry will look at the dangers social media poses to the well-being of Australians.
 
Ms Wicks said she was looking forward to leading the select committee which would examine what more needed to be done to keep Australians safe while online. 
 
“Big tech has a number of questions to answer. But we also want to hear from parents, teachers, small businesses, and other Australians, about their experience, and what needs to change,” Ms Wicks said. 
 
“The Inquiry will give organisations and individuals an opportunity to air their concerns, and for big tech to account for its own conduct. 
 
“This Inquiry is going to be incredibly important to parents, grandparents and those of us who have had an experience on social media that has left an imprint that should never be left in anyone's life. 
 
“I hope that out of this, we can also look at exploring the efficacy of some of the tools that are already available, particularly for parents in terms of online safety. 
 
“The Inquiry builds on world-leading legislation that the Morrison Government announced earlier this week to unmask anonymous online trolls.” 
 
Australia has led the world in regulating social media, establishing the world’s first dedicated online safety watchdog in 2015. 
 
In June this year, the Government passed the tough new Online Safety Act which will give the eSafety Commissioner even stronger powers to direct the removal of online abuse.


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Michael Walls
michael@accessnews.com.au
0407 783 413

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