An international issue
An international issue
It is not only Australia that is investing in bringing user safety and rights to the forefront of online product, service and platform design and development. User safety is an international issue, and the United Kingdom, United States of America, and Europe are also tackling this important topic.
In November 2022, the formation of a Global Online Safety Regulators Network was announced. Regulators in Australia (eSafety), Fiji, Ireland and the United Kingdom are founding members of the Network and will share information, best practice, expertise and experience, to support harmonsied or coordinated approaches to online safety issues, whilst encouraging wider international membership and cooperation.
Julie Inman Grant emphasises the importance of an international network of governments and regulators in an article published through the Lowy Institute (2022), Allies, algorithms and safety online. She also highlights some of the different approaches being used to make our online lives safer.
Australia
In Australia, the eSafety Commissioner is responsible for implementing the Online Safety Act 2021, which sets the regulatory expectations for educating and protecting Australians online. The eSafety Commissioner works closely with industry and community stakeholders to uphold this mandate.
United Kingdom
In the UK, the Online Safety Bill is a new set of laws to protect adults and children online. These laws will make social media companies more responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.
United States
In the US, legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act, the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, and the Digital Services Oversight and Safety Act all include transparency and design requirements to give online users control and knowledge of their privacy and recommendation settings.
European Union
In the EU, the The Digital Services Act will require certain platforms to undertake independent auditing, transparency reporting, and risk assessments with corresponding design changes to recommendation algorithms and the user interface to mitigate potential harms where relevant.
Want to know more?
To learn more about Safety by Design in Australia and similar UK, US and EU initiatives, refer to:
- Inman Grant, J 2022, Allies, algorithms and safety online, Lowy Institute, 15 December 2022.
- Perrino, J 2022, Using ‘safety by design’ to address online harms, Tech Stream, Brookings, 26 July 2022.
- Pothong, K & Livingston S, 2022, UK “Secure by Design” vs Australian “Safety by Design”, London School of Economics, 29 September 2021.
You can find more information about the Global Online Safety Regulators Network on the eSafety website:
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