Social media should remove death and rape threats, PM says

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 01:32 · Archive

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says social media platforms should take responsibility for removing death and rape threats.

Following an attack on independent MP Helen Haines that prompted a broader conversation about political debate in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for social media platforms to remove death and rape threats from their services. Parliamentarians from all parties have shared details of threats they have received since Monday's attack, with several supporting stronger security measures around electorate offices.

Albanese told ABC Radio that social media companies 'should have a responsibility' to police such content, pointing to his government's proposed digital duty of care. He noted that news organisations would face penalties for publishing equivalent material and said platforms should be held to the same standard. He acknowledged that previous attempts to legislate on the issue had failed: 'In the wake of Bondi, we had legislation about hate speech that we weren't able to get through the parliament. It didn't receive the support of either the Coalition or the Greens political party.'

The Prime Minister described the frequency of threats as unprecedented. He said it was 'incredibly unusual' for people to be charged with threatening MPs a decade ago, but 'at the moment, there are multiple, like double digits figures, of people before courts for threats made just against myself'. He called the threats 'completely unacceptable' and said his government would listen to security agencies and work with parliament to keep politicians safe.

Social media should remove death and rape threats, PM says — Image: The West Australian

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How it is being reported

Social media should take down death, rape threats: PMAnthony Albanese has weighed in on the way social media giants police threats on their platform as the attack on Helen Haines sends a shockwave through Australian politics.The West Australian · 22 Oct, 01:05
Social media should take down death, rape threats: PMAnthony Albanese has weighed in on the way social media giants police threats on their platform as the attack on Helen Haines sends a shockwave through Australian politics.Perth Now · 22 Oct, 01:05

In this story: Anthony Albanese · Helen Haines · Australia · Labor · Coalition · Greens

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