Internet giants sign
up for social safety

Leading social networking organisations across Australia and the world have agreed to promote internet safety and raise awareness about antisocial behaviour online under a new protocol.
   Based on the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy’s (DBCDE) Cybersafety Plan, the new arrangements form part of the Department’s program of targeting antisocial behaviour online.
   Prime Minister, Julia Gillard said the Cooperative Arrangement for Complaints Handling on Social Networking Sites protocol committed companies such as Facebook, Google, YouTube, Yahoo! and Microsoft to set out clear information about their own acceptable use guidelines.
Sites to adopt Government guidelines
   Ms Gillard said those companies would also be required to undertake education and awareness-raising activities about what behaviour was acceptable online; have a single point of contact for government; and have robust processes in place for reviewing and acting on complaints.
   “The Protocol is another step in the Government’s ongoing work targeting antisocial behaviour online like cyberbullying,” Ms Gillard said.
   “The Protocol also demonstrates that social networking sites understand that they need to work cooperatively with the Government to meet the expectations of the Australian community when it comes to combating inappropriate conduct online.
   “The Government is encouraging other social networking sites to join Facebook, Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft and sign up to the Protocol and has commenced discussion with Twitter about doing so.”
   Acting Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Kim Carr said the Protocol was another demonstration of the strength of the Cybersafety Plan and had been developed in response to recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety’s June 2011 Interim Report, High-Wire Act: Cyber-Safety and the Young.
   “The Protocol also complements the Government’s popular Easy Guide to Socialising Online which provides information and advice to families about how to safely navigate many popular social networks,” Senator Carr said.
   The Protocol can be accessed at this PS News link.
Edition 344F, 18 January 2013
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