Chairman of News Corp alleges that large technology companies are flouting the rule of law
News Corp Australia Executive Chairman Michael Miller has urged the Labor government to implement a “social licence” system for multinational social media companies, requiring them to comply with Australian laws and regulations. Speaking at the National Press Club of Australia on June 5, Mr. Miller criticized social media giants like Meta, TikTok, and others for operating outside Australian legal jurisdiction while profiting in the country.
Mr. Miller highlighted the negative impacts of social media on society, pointing to studies that showed widespread misogyny and online harassment. He emphasized that social media companies profit from harmful content, such as bullying and misinformation.
Under his proposal, social media companies would be required to obtain a social licence to operate in Australia, paying for the licence and adhering to a set of laws and regulations. This system would hold platforms accountable for the content shared on their platforms and prevent them from hiding behind legal protections like Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act.
Mr. Miller also called for penalties for companies that violated the proposed laws, including criminal sanctions for both companies and their executives. He argued that such measures were necessary to ensure accountability and protect Australian users from harmful online content.
The chairman’s proposal aligns with efforts to regulate the digital advertising market and create a fair competition framework, as recommended by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). He emphasized the need for effective consumer complaint handling systems and penalties for non-compliance, drawing parallels to regulations in other industries like mining.
