Automatic language translation
Our website uses an automatic service to translate our content into different languages. These translations should be used as a guide only. See our Accessibility page for further information.
12 December 2022
Australia’s nine Attorneys-General have endorsed in principle reforms to modernise the nation’s defamation laws on search engines and social media platforms, at their final meeting for 2022.
The Standing Council of Attorneys-General agreed in principle to enact amendments in each jurisdiction to address the extent to which internet intermediaries are liable for reputation-damaging material published by third party users online, to commence from 1 January 2024.
“These reforms will substantially upgrade Australia’s uniform defamation laws, which were first drafted nearly two decades ago before the boom in social media,” Mr Speakman said.
“Online technology means reputations can be irreparably damaged in a matter of keystrokes.
“That’s why NSW has been leading this work and consulting on these reforms to strike a better balance between protecting reputations and promoting freedom of speech online, in circumstances where third parties publish defamatory matter via internet intermediaries.”
The reforms include:
These reforms are the product of extensive consultation, including a public exposure draft released in August 2022 which received 36 submissions, and a stakeholder roundtable.
“We thank all stakeholders, including the technology sector, media companies, lawyers and other individuals, as well as the NSW Defamation Expert Panel (with judicial, other legal and academic members), for their insightful contributions to this significant work,” Mr Speakman said.
Further information on the reforms and consultation process is available here. The Standing Council of Attorneys-General December communique is available here.
14 Dec 2022