# The Albanese Government’s Flailing Online Policy: A Threat to Community Well-Being
## Introduction
As the Albanese government faces the possibility of one-term status, its online policy decisions have come under scrutiny for their potential impact on the community. The recent announcement by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland regarding a “digital duty of care” for social media platforms has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the government’s approach to online regulation.
### Minister Rowland’s Proposal
In her speech, Minister Rowland outlined the government’s plan to impose a “digital duty of care” on social media platforms, with a focus on addressing harms to young people, mental well-being, harmful practices, and illegal content. The proposal aims to shift towards a preventive, systems-based approach to online harms, rather than relying solely on content regulation.
### Implications for Corporate Media
While the proposed duty of care is targeted at social media platforms, it raises questions about the accountability of existing corporate media outlets. Imagine the impact on mainstream media if they were required to operate with a duty of care regarding harm to young people or harmful content promotion. The disparity in regulation between social media and traditional media outlets is a point of contention.
### Inconsistencies in Regulation
The government’s approach to online regulation, including the digital duty of care and misinformation bill, has faced criticism for inconsistencies and lack of scrutiny. The proposed online identity verification scheme, disguised as an age verification tool, has drawn comparisons to controversial data retention laws.
## The Controversial Digital ID Card
The government’s digital identity verification scheme, known as the digital ID card, has raised concerns about privacy and civil liberties. The potential implications of requiring internet users to submit credentials for verification could lead to widespread privacy violations and surveillance.
### Lack of Opposition and Scrutiny
Despite the significant privacy concerns raised by the digital ID card proposal, there has been a lack of meaningful opposition and media scrutiny. The government’s alignment with corporate media interests in promoting the digital ID card has raised questions about the true motivations behind the legislation.
### Privacy Nightmare
The prospect of being asked for verification credentials every time one logs onto social media platforms is a privacy nightmare. The potential expansion of the digital ID card to other harmful sites raises further alarm about the erosion of online privacy rights.
## Conclusion
The Albanese government’s online policy decisions, including the proposed digital duty of care and digital ID card, have sparked controversy and raised concerns about privacy and civil liberties. The government’s alignment with corporate media interests and lack of scrutiny have drawn criticism from various stakeholders.
## FAQ
### What is the government’s proposed digital duty of care?
The digital duty of care is a regulatory framework aimed at holding social media platforms accountable for harms to young people, mental well-being, harmful practices, and illegal content.
### What are the privacy implications of the digital ID card proposal?
The digital ID card proposal raises concerns about widespread privacy violations and surveillance, as internet users may be required to submit credentials for verification.
### How does the government’s online policy align with corporate media interests?
The government’s online policy decisions have been criticized for aligning with corporate media interests, raising questions about the motivations behind the proposed legislation.