Victoria Targets Online Trolls with Tough New AI Surveillance Laws
Synopsis
The Victorian government plans to introduce tougher online safety and workplace surveillance laws, including powers to identify anonymous online vilifiers and stronger protections against intrusive AI monitoring.
Key Highlights
- Victoria will provide VCAT powers to order social media companies to reveal the identification of users said to have engaged in online vilification.
- The government has proposed new workplace surveillance laws to limit the use of AI and biometrics.
- Multi-faceted reform would further enable families and children to sue social media & AI companies if accused of causing psychological injury.
Victorian government has announced new laws targeting online abuse, workplace surveillance & social media's effect on children
The changes would allow the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to obtain demasking orders that force social media companies to identify anonymous users making complaints of vilification.
Premier Jacinta Allan said that people shouldn’t be hiding behind anonymous accounts and spreading hate online. It shouldn’t be deemed okay to vilify someone behind an anonymous account online, she added.
New Workplace Surveillance Rules
The government also intends to implement an Australian workplace surveillance regime described as the toughest in Australia. The draft legislation states that employers would only be able to collect biometric data if there were no less invasive option available.
The reforms would ban the application of AI to spy on workers’ toilet breaks or a specific physical condition, like pregnancy or a limp, except under certain conditions where it is justified.
The use of biometric technology to monitor employee emotions would also be banned, except for cases like a requirement to check the fatigue status of truck drivers.
Under that data, employers would need to inform employees when they are being monitored and any key workplace decisions based on the data travelling with workers would be subject to a human review process.
Makes it easier to sue tech companies
The government also wants to make it easier for children and families to sue social media and AI companies, in cases of psychiatric harm resulting from neglect.
At present families must show a child has suffered permanent injury of at least 10% before they can make a claim. These proposed reforms would remove this requirement for cases involving a minor. The government will also examine if the same changes should be introduced for adults.
Reforms Face Political Debate
The legislation is yet to be drafted and introduced in Parliament. While both the Coalition and Victorian Greens supported the overarching objectives, neither pledged to vote for the laws until seeing the final bill.
The changes could enhance accountability by allowing authorities to identify people behind online hate, RMIT University Associate Dean Dana McKay said but she warned they may also create concerns over expanded definitions of hate speech, victimisation and legal tussles with social media companies.
The Victorian government has stated that it aims to get the legislation before voters ahead of its state election next year, if possible.
Source: Information Age
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