News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller repeats his call for a ‘social licence’ for big tech companies in Australia in a new TV series.
And he tells Seven’s Michael Usher that Meta has shown that it has the ability to take down content: “They should give back to the community,” he says. “They don’t show a lot of care for the communities they operate in.”
Miller says new laws need to be introduced to address the current situation, not the one when the US’ Section 230 was formed to allow startups to flourish. “Now they’ve grown up, they need to comply,” he tells Usher.
Miller calls for a “social licence” as part of a collection of laws – with criminal sanctions including jail terms – similar to those covering employment, workplace safety, and the responsibilities of directors. “And they should pay a licence to operate here,” he says.
“‘Pay or play’ or we don’t want them in Australia.”
Miller spoke out against Meta and other social media giants during a Press Club address in June, saying they should be held liable for all content that is “amplified, curated and controlled by their algorithms or recommender engines”.
While Australia’s competition watchdog the ACCC found Meta was “an unavoidable trading partner”, Miller believes local alternatives would emerge if it decided legislation was too restrictive.
The seven-part 7News Spotlight TV series also includes content on improving online safety for young people, with investigative journalist Sarah Greenhalgh discussing the issue with podcast host and former social media manager Nicki Reisberg and former engineering director David Erb.