?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Submission+to+the+Department+of+Industry%2C+Science+and+Resources+regarding+Communications+Legislation+Amendment+(Combatting+Misinformation+and+Disinformation)+Bill+2023&rft.creator=O'Shea%2C+Lizzie&rft.creator=Suzor%2C+Nicolas&rft.creator=Nelson%2C+Lucinda&rft.description=Digital+Rights+Watch+(DRW)+welcomes+the+opportunity+to+submit+comments+to+the+Department+of+Infrastructure%2C+Transport%2C+Regional+Development%2C+Communications+and+the+Arts+regarding+the+Communications+Legislation+Amendment+(Combatting+Misinformation+and+Disinformation)+Bill+2023+(the+Bill).+We+have+significant+concerns+about+the+breadth+of+powers+that+the+Bill+proposes+to+grant+the+ACMA+with+limited+mechanisms+for+oversight+and+accountability.+%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EMis-+and+dis-information+are+undoubtedly+serious+problems.+Together%2C+they+are+a+symptom+of+advertising-based+business+models+that+prioritise+engagement+above+all+else.+Platforms+collect+extensive+personal+information+that+underpins+the+strategic+optimisation+of+features+designed+to+attract+new+users%2C+retain+attention%2C+and+increase+interaction+with+these+platforms%2C+allowing+them+to+maximise+value+to+advertisers.+Platforms+use+micro-targeted+advertising%2C+automated+search%2C+active+curation%2C+and+algorithmic+recommendation+systems+to+amplify+the+most+engaging+content.+Revenue+sharing+systems%2C+in+turn%2C+create+direct+financial+incentives+for+content+creators+to+create+and+share+engaging+content.+The+result+is+a+media+ecosystem+that+prioritises+engaging+content+%E2%80%93+often+content+that+is+polarising%2C+controversial+or+addictive%2C+including+misinformation+and+disinformation.+Consideration+of+collective+concerns%2C+such+as+the+public+interest%2C+human+rights+and+community+obligations+cannot+compete+with+these+motivations+and+in+practice+are+not+prioritised+by+platforms.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EWe+welcome+efforts+to+reduce+the+spread+of+mis-+and+disinformation%2C+but+these+efforts+only+target+the+symptoms+of+the+problem+rather+than+the+cause.+This+is+not+to+say+such+efforts+are+in+vain%2C+but+rather+to+acknowledge+the+complexity+of+the+task+as+presented.+It+is+also+to+ensure+that+the+very+real+risks+of+overreach+are+addressed+and+not+downplayed+in+pursuit+of+an+over-simplified+solution+to+the+very+real+problems+of+mis-+and+dis-information.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EA+founding+myth+of+the+Internet+is+that+it+was+a+haven+for+free+speech+and+facilitated+the+liberation+of+citizens+from+the+authoritarian+reach+of+the+nation+state.+We+accept+that+this+was+fantastical+thinking%3B+that+in+fact%2C+algorithmic+amplification+of+content+for+profit+has+been+a+feature+of+the+Internet+since+its+earliest+days%2C+as+it+was+in+the+broadcast+era.+The+curation+of+online+content+is+nothing+new.+Having+said+that%2C+a+key+priority+of+policymaking+in+this+field+should+be+to+avoid+contributing+to+digital+authoritarianism.+It+is+important+to+resist+the+temptation+to+over-police+content+at+the+expense+of+human+rights+like+privacy%2C+freedom+of+association+as+well+as+freedom+of+speech.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EIn+this+context%2C+we+wish+to+raise+a+number+of+comments+and+concerns+about+the+exposure+draft+for+your+consideration.&rft.date=2023-08-25&rft.type=Other+Contribution&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.relation=https%3A%2F%2Feprints.qut.edu.au%2F243858%2F1%2F2023_DRW_x_DMRC_submission_re_misinformation.pdf&rft.rights=free_to_read&rft.relation=O'Shea%2C+Lizzie%2C+Suzor%2C+Nicolas%2C+%26+Nelson%2C+Lucinda+(2023)+Submission+to+the+Department+of+Industry%2C+Science+and+Resources+regarding+Communications+Legislation+Amendment+(Combatting+Misinformation+and+Disinformation)+Bill+2023.&rft.id_number=https%3A%2F%2Feprints.qut.edu.au%2F243858%2F&rft.rights=Consult+author(s)+regarding+copyright+matters&rft.rights=This+work+is+covered+by+copyright.+Unless+the+document+is+being+made+available+under+a+Creative+Commons+Licence%2C+you+must+assume+that+re-use+is+limited+to+personal+use+and+that+permission+from+the+copyright+owner+must+be+obtained+for+all+other+uses.+If+the+document+is+available+under+a+Creative+Commons+License+(or+other+specified+license)+then+refer+to+the+Licence+for+details+of+permitted+re-use.+It+is+a+condition+of+access+that+users+recognise+and+abide+by+the+legal+requirements+associated+with+these+rights.+If+you+believe+that+this+work+infringes+copyright+please+provide+details+by+email+to+qut.copyright%40qut.edu.au&rft.identifier=Digital+Media+Research+Centre%3B+Faculty+of+Business+%26+Law%3B+School+of+Law%3B+Faculty+of+Creative+Industries%2C+Education+%26+Social+Justice