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Australia – (E6) Content monitoring instruments

Score in short:

Australia has a number of monitoring instruments, but largely of a self-regulatory or co-regulatory nature.

Score in detail:

In the monitoring landscape of Australia, the same institutions continue to play a central role after one decade. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has the task of regulating the content of broadcasting, radio communications, online gambling, and telecommunications. It monitors transgressions regarding compliance with licence conditions, codes, and standards.

In 2015, the Enhancing Online Safety Act established the eSafety Commissioner, who is supported by the ACMA and has powers relating to cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and illegal and harmful online content.

The Australian Press Council is the self-regulatory body of the print media. It was established in 1976 with two main aims: to help preserve the traditional freedom of the press within Australia and to ensure that the free press acts responsibly and ethically and provides accurate and balanced reporting (Australian Press Council, 2020). While it only deals with complaints received, it does play an active role in promoting freedom of speech and access to information, and in ensuring high journalistic and editorial standards. Its adjudications are available on its website (see Josephi, 2011), and publishers involved in complaints must publish adjudications which involve their own journalists.