Australia's ACMA Misinformation Bill — Government Power to Define "False" Content
The Australian Government introduced the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023, granting the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) powers to enforce codes and standards against online "misinformation and disinformation." Critics warned the bill's definition of misinformation — content that is "false, misleading or deceptive" and causes or is likely to cause "serious harm" — was so broad it would capture legitimate political debate. Notably, government and authorised electoral content was explicitly exempted from the misinformation definition — critics described this as the government licensing itself to spread disinformation while criminalising public dissent. The bill was withdrawn in November 2024 after Senate opposition, but the regulatory intent was maintained through ongoing ACMA activity.