Social Media A ‘Coward's Palace': Australian PM

Platforms should be treated as publishers of any defamatory comments posted, he says

SYDNEY

Australia’s prime minister yesterday lambasted social media as “a coward’s palace”, saying platforms should be treated as publishers when unidentified defamatory comments are posted, pouring fuel on a raging debate over the country’s libel laws.

Mr Scott Morrison’s comments suggest he would favour making companies like Facebook liable for defamation with regards to some content posted by third parties, a position that could further cement Australia’s outlier status on the subject.

The country’s highest court ruled last month that publishers can be held liable for public comments on online forums, a judgment that has pitted Facebook and news organisations against each other and spread alarm among all sectors that engage with the public via social media.