STATEMENTS BY SENATORS
Senator LAMBIE (Tasmania) (13:54): In 2024, during the Senate inquiry on the social media ban, I and other senators asked the big tech industry body what they were doing about their nasty algorithms. The big tech rep said that algorithms were key to making online space safer, and the algorithms were already working to protect our kids. What a joke that was and what an absolute lie.
When I said, 'That's fine, but can't you just have the safety algorithms and get rid of the bad algorithms?' and asked why they didn't do that themselves, they didn't have an answer for that. They just said that there was a principle of duty of care which was needed—which is rubbish—even though they admitted that there was already a safety expectation. Big tech love these nasty algorithms because they are designed to keep our kids in online so they make more money.
They don't give us stuff about our children out there. We've got to come down hard on these guys. Governments of both stripes let social media get out of control; now we're playing catch up.
Two years ago, when senators were telling the Labor government what a problem algorithms were, you ignored us. Then the government got rid of an independent advisory body stacked with the best minds in AI from Australia. You got rid of him and then turned to big tech.
Big tech is now advising them. It's big tech all the way. Now, two years later, the government has finally woken up—now it's all about algorithms.
Don't tell me these nasty algorithms are about free speech, because that's rubbish as well. There is a difference between free speech and using algorithms to pump ugly content to our kids. A large study from the Melbourne University found that pornography consumption is the online behaviour that most consistently links with attitudes that normalise, minimise and excuse violence against women.
I look forward to seeing the detail of the government's latest attempt to control big tech. I want to see whether you've actually got some courage this time around, because this government doesn't have a great reputation when it comes to protecting our Aussie children. Look at what they did on gambling reforms.
They did the least possible, and I expect they'll do the least possible again when it comes to going up against the big tech because, once again, they lack the courage. You lack courage. (Time expired)