Twitter Must Explain Why Hate Speech Is Prevalent On The Platform, Australian Commissioner Demands
Twitter now has 28 days to respond to the eSafety Commissioner or face a daily fine.
An Australian cyber regulator has noticed that Twitter’s online hate has increased after the lifting of bans on approximately 62,000 Twitter accounts by owner Elon Musk. Taking a strong stand against the microblogging platform, the regulator demanded a clear explanation regarding the handling of hateful content on the platform, as reported by Reuters.
This move comes from eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who is part of an ongoing campaign to hold Twitter accountable for its promise of free speech, made after Musk acquired the company for $44 billion last October.
According to Grant, there have been more complaints regarding online hate on Twitter when compared to any other platform like Instagram and Facebook, regardless of the fact that Twitter has fewer users when compared to others, as per Reuters.
"Twitter appears to have dropped the ball on tackling hate," Grant said in a statement.
Twitter now has 28 days to respond to the eSafety Commissioner, failing which it may face a daily fine of nearly $473,480.
In February, authorities had already taken action against Twitter by sending in a legal notice, demanding an explanation for online child abuse material which spread rapidly on the platform.
The latest move keeps in mind the recent events that happened in Australia, like when indigenous television host Stan Grant mentioned that he faced abuse on Twitter when he announced his temporary departure from the media last month, as highlighted by the commissioner.
Additionally, specialist broadcaster National Indigenous Television had also announced a break from Twitter due to the platform’s spreading hate and racism.
Meanwhile, a group of employees at Twitter has filed a lawsuit against the social media company, alleging that it has failed to honour its commitment to pay out 2022 bonuses.
Despite promises that these bonuses would be paid at 50 per cent of the target amounts, Twitter has allegedly refused to do so, according to the lawsuit filed in a San Francisco federal court, as reported by Bloomberg. The lawsuit claims that Twitter operates an annual cash performance bonus plan that was scheduled to be distributed before Elon Musk's acquisition of the company in October.
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