A Senate Committee into Foreign Interference through Social Media has begun public hearings, while the Morrison Government continues to drag its feet on protecting Australians and our democracy from this growing threat.
Labor initiated the Committee last year to inquire into and report on the risk posed to Australias democracy by foreign interference through social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and WeChat.
This has been a threat to democracies for years and is growing - with examples as prominent as Crimea in 2014, the US Presidential Election in 2016 and Hong Kong last year.
In its report on the 2016 election, the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters said it was essential that cyber-manipulation be actively considered as part of Australian elections.
But it wasnt until last week that the Foreign Minister warned about the dangers of foreign, state-backed disinformation.
And its still not clear what the Morrison Government will actually do to protect Australias democracy from malicious foreign actors.
This Committee, led by Senator Jenny McAllister, will hear from experts and examine potential responses to reduce the risk of cyber-enabled foreign interference and misinformation.
ASPI along with the ANU were among the first to give evidence with their submissions highlighting how Australian Facebook users were targeted and manipulated during the 2019 election.
Fridays announcement from the Prime Minister further underlines the risk posed by state-based actors and the need for a coherent strategy to ensure the safety of Australians, and Australian businesses online.
Labor hopes the Committees work will help propel the Morrison Government from talk to action on this growing threat.
Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra.