For anyone who takes a keen interest in online issues and culture, it comes as no surprise that the spreading of misinformation and disinformation has emerged as one of the most significant societal problems in recent years. What’s the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
The easiest way to remember is with “MIS”.
Misinformation is a MIStake; the spreading of fake news by someone who doesn’t know it’s a falsehood.
Disinformation is fake news that is created and spread deliberately, usually as a targeted campaign by someone or a group who knows full well that it’s false.
The rapid sharing of false information, which then gets amplified across social media platforms, can be a real threat in the realms of public health, the democratic process, and overall political stability.
The most glaring example of this in recent memory has been the impact that fake news had on the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, with the creation of an environment of fear, confusion, and resistance to government decisions. All countries around the world are trying to grapple with this issue, and Australia is no exception.
The relevant authorities have long recognized the threat that misinformation and disinformation in Australia can cause, and with the introduction of the Australian Misinformation and Disinformation Bill, along with the promotion and use of effective software, the country is coming up with ways to maintain the integrity of its information culture.
Representing a real significant effort to start tackling and curbing the spreading of false information, the Australian Misinformation and Disinformation Bill is the cornerstone of a much wider and broader strategy that the government is implementing. It is designed to address some of the most immediate challenges that are posed by the dissemination of misleading content online. Let’s take a look at some of the core aspects of the bill.
It sets out clear definitions of the terms in question. Misinformation is defined as misleading or false information that is shared with harmful intent, whilst disinformation in Australia is classed as misleading content that is shared with intent to deceive.
The bill proposes penalties for any organizations or individuals found to be deliberately spreading disinformation in Australia, especially in cases when significant harm is caused.
To implement more transparency online, digital platforms are required to remove or label any content that is proven to be fake, take proactive measures to mitigate the spread of identified fake news, and incorporate technologies and algorithms in their systems that can detect and prevent the content from surfacing in the first place.
Another key requirement is that regular reporting is done by the various digital platforms to demonstrate their commitment and efforts towards combating the disinformation on their servers. These key aspects alongside a long list of others show that Australia is serious about coming up with strategies to fight disinformation.
The country has the aim to protect its citizens from the potential dangers of such content, whilst also wanting to set an example to the rest of the world on how democratic nations can tackle such a complex, universal problem without compromising any fundamental freedoms.
Australia has decided on a strong regulatory approach when it comes to tackling the spread of disinformation. The ACMA (Australian Communication and Media Authority) is taking a leading role in enforcing regulations that specifically target false information.
A key aspect in this Australian misinformation laws framework is the implementation of fines for any non-compliance by social media companies. Any platforms that do not actively work on removing and addressing the malicious content on their servers can face fines under the Australia Misinformation Bill. In a sense, this approach is designed to encourage the companies to act by hitting them where it hurts, their finances.
Regulation within the Australian legal system on its own isn’t necessarily sufficient, and disinformation Australia authorities recognize this. Alongside the regulatory measures, there are also several public awareness campaigns designed to educate people about the dangers of misinformation and disinformation.
Various demographics are targeted with different educational initiatives, with a particular emphasis being put on younger audiences who are more likely to encounter such content on more social media platforms. Schools and universities can play a big part in spreading media literacy among their populations.
Collaborating with tech companies is one of the most important elements of Australia’s battle against disinformation. Digital platforms are essentially the storefront for all of this potentially harmful content, so partnering in the efforts to tackle it is essential.
The relevant authorities have engaged with all of the major social platforms and tech companies, to develop measures that can detect and remove harmful content. Among the most standout of these partnerships is Osavul, which is a platform that has been specifically designed to monitor and combat dangerous misinformation and disinformation.
As we have briefly alluded to above, Osavul is a sophisticated suite of tools that have been developed to monitor and counter identified false information and support Australian law. Some of the key aspects of the tools available to users include:
Osavul is able to monitor huge amounts of data across multiple chosen platforms, from news outlets to forums to social media and more. The more it monitors, the better able it is to detect any emerging disinformation trends and work to quickly mitigate them.
The advanced algorithms used by Osavul can identify patterns in disinformation, including coordinated campaigns and repeated mentions of specific hot-topic false claims across Australia. This allows users to take much faster action.
The benefit of Osavul being able to provide real-time analysis to users is that it makes it possible for the most informed decision to be made at any given moment, therefore addressing and combating disinformation threats much more effectively.
Osavul works hand in hand with many tech companies to ensure a strong, coordinated approach to content detection and moderation. This is the most effective way to make sure that harmful content does not find its intended audience.
It is clear from everything that has been covered that Australia is taking its campaign to combat disinformation extremely seriously. Through a combination of public awareness campaigns, regulatory measures, and tech company collaboration, the direction that the country’s government and wider public are going in has to be a positive one when it comes to fighting disinformation in Australia.
With the implementation of the Australian Misinformation and Disinformation Bill, a strong legal framework has been set that provides a solid base from which to grow the country’s fight against harmful and malicious content online.
