Key Minister Scott Morrison suggests huge tech firms have accountability to ensure their platforms are safe and sound.

Australia will conduct a large-ranging parliamentary inquiry into the conduct of the world’s most significant technological innovation corporations and the will need for new legislation, Prime Minister Scott Morrison claimed on Wednesday.

Australia has led worldwide endeavours to rein in the powers of the likes of Alphabet and Fb, installing legislation that has been heralded as a product for many others to duplicate.

Raising the possibility of extra regulation, Morrison mentioned on Wednesday that the new inquiry will have a huge scope, like inquiring the committee lawmakers to look into the algorithms applied by social media platforms, how the firms confirm identification and age, and the extent to which constraints on these are becoming enforced.

“Big tech has significant questions to respond to,” Morrison instructed reporters. “Big tech developed these platforms, they have a responsibility to make sure they’re safe and sound.”

New guidelines

The announcement of a new inquiry is most likely to stoke tensions between Australia’s federal government and Facebook, which not too long ago changed its identify to Meta, as well as Google.

Previously this calendar year, Australia carried out tough new legislation that produced the tech businesses pay back nearby media for information, although Canberra has proposed legislation that would drive them to share the identities of persons with anonymous accounts if an additional particular person accuses them of defamation.

When Australia proposed laws forcing equally firms to pay area media for news content, Google threatened to near its Australian research engine, whilst Fb cut all third-occasion written content from Australian accounts for additional than a 7 days.

Each eventually struck specials with Australian media providers following a series of amendments to the laws were being provided.

The committee in cost of the new inquiry will report its findings by February 15, 2022.