Twitter has been accused of not doing enough to tackle a surging rise in online hate on the social media platform.
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Australia's eSafety commissioner issued a legal notice after it received more complaints about online hate on Twitter than any other platform.
It found complaints of serious online abuse had spiked since Elon Musk acquired the company in October, 2022.
The legal notice demands Twitter provides information on what it is doing to address online hate.
"Twitter appears to have dropped the ball on tackling hate. A third of all complaints about online hate reported to us are now happening on Twitter," eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.
The eSafety commissioner said the rise in complaints coincides with the reinstatement of banned or suspended users.
The 'general amnesty' saw 62,000 banned or suspended users reinstated.
"We are also aware of reports that the reinstatement of some of these previously banned accounts has emboldened extreme polarisers, peddlers of outrage and hate, including neo-Nazis both in Australia and overseas," Ms Inman Grant said.
Research found racist and anti-Semitic slurs had increased on Twitter since Elon Musk acquired the company.
Anti-Defamation League found anti-semitic posts rose by 61 per cent two weeks after Elon Musk acquired the company.
Center for Countering Digital Hate found slurs against African Americans on Twitter had more than doubled since Elon Musk acquired the company, from 1,282 times a day to 3,876.
Federal communication minister Michelle Rowland welcomed the eSafety commissioner's decision to issue a reporting notice to Twitter.
"Our government's first priority is to keep Australians safe, and I would encourage Twitter to work collaboratively with eSafety as they exercise their powers under the Online Safety Act," Ms Rowland said.
"People have a right to be free from abuse and harassment in the online world.
"Platforms are expected to enforce their own terms of service in relation to online hate and abuse, and this is a matter we are monitoring closely in consultation with the eSafety commissioner."
IN OTHER NEWS:
This is the second legal notice Twitter has received from the eSafety commissioner, with another relating to child sexual exploitation and abuse issued in February 2023. A similar notice was also provided to TikTok, Google, YouTube, Twitch and Discord.
Twitter has 28 days to respond to the eSafety comissioner's legal notice. If they do not respond the social media giant could face a maximum fine of $700,000 a day.
Marlene Even
Journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. Previously a radio and podcast host at 2SER Radio.
Journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. Previously a radio and podcast host at 2SER Radio.
