2019-2020-2021

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time

 

 

 

 

Online Safety Bill 2021

 

No.      , 2021

 

(Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts)

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act relating to online safety for Australians, and for other purposes

   

   

   

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1

3............ Objects of this Act.............................................................................. 2

4............ Simplified outline of this Act.............................................................. 2

5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 5

6............ Cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child..................... 14

7............ Cyber-abuse material targeted at an Australian adult......................... 15

8............ Determining whether material is offensive........................................ 16

9............ Material that depicts abhorrent violent conduct................................. 17

10.......... When material is provided on a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service       17

11.......... When material is posted by an end-user of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service............................................................................................... 17

12.......... When material is removed from a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service    17

13.......... Social media service.......................................................................... 17

13A....... Relevant electronic service................................................................ 18

14.......... Designated internet service................................................................ 19

15.......... Intimate image................................................................................... 20

16.......... Non-consensual intimate image of a person...................................... 21

17.......... Hosting service................................................................................. 22

18.......... On-demand program service............................................................. 22

19.......... Internet service providers.................................................................. 23

20.......... Supply of internet carriage service to the public................................ 23

21.......... Consent............................................................................................. 24

22.......... Crown to be bound........................................................................... 24

23.......... Application of this Act...................................................................... 25

24.......... Convention on the Rights of the Child.............................................. 25

Part 2—eSafety Commissioner                                                                                     26

25.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 26

26.......... eSafety Commissioner...................................................................... 26

27.......... Functions of the Commissioner........................................................ 26

28.......... Powers of the Commissioner............................................................ 28

Part 3—Complaints, objections and investigations                                          29

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                           29

29.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 29

Division 2—Complaints about cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child              30

30.......... Complaints about cyber-bullying material......................................... 30

31.......... Investigation of complaints............................................................... 32

Division 3—Complaints about, and objections to, intimate images    33

32.......... Complaints........................................................................................ 33

33.......... Objection notice................................................................................ 34

34.......... Investigation of complaints............................................................... 36

35.......... Commissioner’s response to objection notices.................................. 36

Division 4—Complaints about cyber-abuse material targeted at an Australian adult   37

36.......... Complaints about cyber-abuse material............................................. 37

37.......... Investigation of complaints............................................................... 38

Division 5—Complaints relating to the online content scheme             40

38.......... Complaints about class 1 material or class 2 material........................ 40

39.......... Complaints relating to breach of a service provider rule etc.............. 40

40.......... Complaints relating to breach of an industry code etc....................... 41

41.......... Residency etc. of complainant........................................................... 41

42.......... Commissioner may investigate matters............................................. 41

43.......... Commissioner may refuse to investigate certain matters................... 43

Part 4—Basic online safety expectations                                                                 44

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                           44

44.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 44

Division 2—Basic online safety expectations                                                  45

45.......... Basic online safety expectations........................................................ 45

46.......... Core expectations.............................................................................. 45

47.......... Consultation...................................................................................... 47

48.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 48

Division 3—Reporting                                                                                                 50

Subdivision A—Periodic reporting about compliance with basic online safety expectations     50

49.......... Periodic reporting notice................................................................... 50

50.......... Compliance with notice..................................................................... 51

51.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 52

52.......... Periodic reporting determination....................................................... 52

53.......... Compliance with determination......................................................... 53

54.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 53

55.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 53

Subdivision B—Non-periodic reporting about compliance with basic online safety expectations             54

56.......... Non-periodic reporting notice........................................................... 54

57.......... Compliance with notice..................................................................... 56

58.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 56

59.......... Non-periodic reporting determination............................................... 56

60.......... Compliance with determination......................................................... 57

61.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 57

62.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 57

Subdivision C—Self-incrimination                                                                       58

63.......... Self-incrimination.............................................................................. 58

Part 5—Cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child           60

64.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 60

65.......... Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service.......................................................................................................... 60

66.......... Removal notice given to a hosting service provider.......................... 61

67.......... Compliance with removal notice....................................................... 62

68.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 63

70.......... End-user notice................................................................................. 63

71.......... Compliance with end-user notice...................................................... 64

72.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 64

73.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 64

Part 6—Non-consensual sharing of intimate images                                       66

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                           66

74.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 66

Division 2—Intimate images must not be posted without consent etc. 67

75.......... Posting an intimate image.................................................................. 67

76.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 68

Division 3—Removal notices                                                                                   69

77.......... Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service.......................................................................................................... 69

78.......... Removal notice given to an end-user................................................. 70

79.......... Removal notice given to a hosting service provider.......................... 71

80.......... Compliance with removal notice....................................................... 72

81.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 72

Division 4—Miscellaneous                                                                                        73

83.......... Remedial direction............................................................................. 73

84.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 73

85.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 73

86.......... Exempt provision of an intimate image............................................. 74

Part 7—Cyber-abuse material targeted at an Australian adult               77

87.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 77

88.......... Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service.......................................................................................................... 77

89.......... Removal notice given to an end-user................................................. 78

90.......... Removal notice given to a hosting service provider.......................... 79

91.......... Compliance with removal notice....................................................... 80

92.......... Formal warning................................................................................. 80

93.......... Service provider notifications............................................................ 80

Part 8—Material that depicts abhorrent violent conduct                             82

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                           82

94.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 82

Division 2—Blocking requests                                                                                83

95.......... Blocking request............................................................................... 83

96.......... Duration of blocking request............................................................. 84

97.......... Revocation of blocking request......................................................... 84

98.......... Notification in relation to domain names and URLs.......................... 85

Division 3—Blocking notices                                                                                   86

99.......... Blocking notice................................................................................. 86

100........ Duration of blocking notice............................................................... 87

101........ Revocation of blocking notice........................................................... 87

102........ Notification in relation to domain names and URLs.......................... 88

103........ Compliance with blocking notice...................................................... 88

Division 4—Exempt material                                                                                  89

104........ Exempt material................................................................................. 89

Part 9—Online content scheme                                                                                     91

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                           91

105........ Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 91

106........ Class 1 material................................................................................. 91

107........ Class 2 material................................................................................. 93

108........ Restricted access system................................................................... 96

Division 2—Removal notices relating to class 1 material                        98

109........ Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service.......................................................................................................... 98

110........ Removal notice given to a hosting service provider.......................... 98

111........ Compliance with removal notice....................................................... 99

112........ Formal warning................................................................................. 99

113........ Revocation of removal notice............................................................ 99

113A..... Service provider notifications.......................................................... 100

Division 3—Removal notices relating to class 2 material                      101

114........ Removal notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service........................................................................................................ 101

115........ Removal notice given to a hosting service provider........................ 101

116........ Compliance with removal notice..................................................... 102

117........ Formal warning............................................................................... 102

118........ Revocation of removal notice.......................................................... 103

118A..... Service provider notifications.......................................................... 103

Division 4—Remedial notices relating to class 2 material                     104

119........ Remedial notice given to the provider of a social media service, relevant electronic service or designated internet service........................................................................................................ 104

120........ Remedial notice given to a hosting service provider........................ 105

121........ Compliance with remedial notice..................................................... 105

122........ Formal warning............................................................................... 106

123........ Revocation of remedial notice......................................................... 106

123A..... Service provider notifications.......................................................... 106

Division 5—Link deletion notices                                                                        108

124........ Link deletion notice......................................................................... 108

125........ Compliance with link deletion notice............................................... 109

126........ Formal warning............................................................................... 109

127........ Revocation of link deletion notice................................................... 109

Division 6—App removal notices                                                                        110

128........ App removal notice......................................................................... 110

129........ Compliance with app removal notice............................................... 111

130........ Formal warning............................................................................... 111

131........ Revocation of app removal notice................................................... 111

Division 7—Industry codes and industry standards                                 112

Subdivision A—Interpretation                                                                             112

132........ Industry codes................................................................................. 112

133........ Industry standards........................................................................... 112

134........ Online activity................................................................................. 112

135........ Sections of the online industry........................................................ 113

136........ Participants in a section of the online industry................................ 114

Subdivision B—General principles relating to industry codes and industry standards                114

137........ Statement of regulatory policy......................................................... 114

138........ Examples of matters that may be dealt with by industry codes and industry standards            115

139........ Escalation of complaints.................................................................. 118

Subdivision C—Industry codes                                                                            119

140........ Registration of industry codes......................................................... 119

141........ Commissioner may request codes................................................... 120

142........ Replacement of industry codes........................................................ 121

143........ Compliance with industry codes..................................................... 121

144........ Formal warnings—breach of industry codes.................................. 122

Subdivision D—Industry standards                                                                    122

145........ Commissioner may determine an industry standard........................ 122

146........ Compliance with industry standards............................................... 122

147........ Formal warnings—breach of industry standards............................ 123

148........ Public consultation on industry standards....................................... 123

Subdivision E—Register of industry codes and industry standards           124

149........ Commissioner to maintain Register of industry codes and industry standards         124

Subdivision F—Miscellaneous                                                                             124

150........ Industry standards prevail over inconsistent industry codes........... 124

Division 8—Service provider determinations                                               125

151........ Service provider determinations...................................................... 125

152........ Exemptions from service provider determinations.......................... 126

153........ Compliance with service provider rules.......................................... 126

154........ Remedial directions—breach of service provider rules................... 127

155........ Formal warnings—breach of service provider rules....................... 127

Division 9—Federal Court orders                                                                      128

156........ Federal Court may order a person to cease providing a social media service            128

157........ Federal Court may order a person to cease providing a relevant electronic service   128

158........ Federal Court may order a person to cease providing a designated internet service  129

159........ Federal Court may order a person to cease supplying an internet carriage service    130

Division 10—Commissioner may obtain advice from the Classification Board                 131

160........ Commissioner may obtain advice from the Classification Board.... 131

Part 10—Enforcement                                                                                                     133

161........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 133

162........ Civil penalty provision.................................................................... 133

163........ Infringement notices........................................................................ 134

164........ Enforceable undertakings................................................................ 135

165........ Injunctions...................................................................................... 137

Part 11—Administrative provisions relating to the Commissioner      139

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                         139

166........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 139

Division 2—Appointment of the Commissioner                                           140

167........ Appointment of the Commissioner................................................. 140

168........ Period of appointment for the Commissioner.................................. 140

169........ Acting appointments....................................................................... 140

170........ Application of finance law.............................................................. 141

Division 3—Terms and conditions for the Commissioner                      142

171........ Remuneration and allowances......................................................... 142

172........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 142

173........ Outside employment....................................................................... 142

174........ Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................. 142

175........ Resignation..................................................................................... 143

176........ Termination of appointment............................................................ 143

177........ Other terms and conditions............................................................. 144

Division 4—Other matters                                                                                      145

178........ Supplementary powers.................................................................... 145

179........ Commissioner’s liabilities are Commonwealth liabilities................ 145

180........ Commissioner has privileges and immunities of the Crown........... 145

181........ Delegation by the Commissioner to a member of the staff of the ACMA etc.          146

182........ Delegation by the Commissioner to a contractor engaged by the Commissioner      146

183........ Annual report.................................................................................. 148

184........ Assistance to the Commissioner..................................................... 148

185........ Contractors engaged by the Commissioner..................................... 149

186........ Commissioner not subject to direction by the ACMA etc............... 149

187........ Consultants..................................................................................... 150

188........ Minister may give directions to the Commissioner......................... 150

Part 12—Online Safety Special Account                                                              151

189........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 151

190........ Online Safety Special Account........................................................ 151

191........ Credits to the Account..................................................................... 151

192........ Purposes of the Account................................................................. 152

Part 13—Information-gathering powers                                                              153

193........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 153

194........ Commissioner may obtain end-user identity information or contact details              153

195........ Compliance with notice................................................................... 154

196........ Self-incrimination............................................................................ 154

Part 14—Investigative powers                                                                                     156

197........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 156

198........ Application of this Part................................................................... 156

199........ Notice requiring appearance for examination.................................. 156

200........ Examination on oath or affirmation................................................. 156

201........ Examination to take place in private................................................ 157

202........ Record to be made of examination.................................................. 157

203........ Production of documents for inspection.......................................... 157

204........ Protection of persons giving evidence............................................. 158

205........ Non-compliance with requirement to give evidence........................ 158

Part 15—Disclosure of information                                                                         160

206........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 160

207........ Scope.............................................................................................. 160

208........ Disclosure to Minister..................................................................... 160

209........ Disclosure to Secretary, or APS employees, for advising the Minister 160

210........ Disclosure to a member of the staff of the ACMA etc.................... 160

211........ Disclosure to Royal Commissions.................................................. 161

212........ Disclosure to certain authorities...................................................... 161

213........ Disclosure to teachers or school principals..................................... 162

214........ Disclosure to parents or guardians.................................................. 163

215........ Disclosure with consent.................................................................. 163

216........ Disclosure of publicly available information................................... 163

217........ Disclosure of summaries and statistics............................................ 163

218........ Relationship with Parts 13 and 15 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 164

Part 16—Miscellaneous                                                                                                   165

219........ Simplified outline of this Part.......................................................... 165

220........ Review of decisions........................................................................ 165

221........ Protection from civil proceedings.................................................... 169

222........ Liability for damages....................................................................... 170

223........ Protection from criminal proceedings—Commissioner, Classification Board etc.    170

224........ Referral of matters to law enforcement agencies............................. 171

225........ Deferral of action in order to avoid prejudicing a criminal investigation.. 172

226........ Copies of material........................................................................... 172

227........ Compensation for acquisition of property....................................... 173

228........ Service of notices by electronic means............................................ 173

229........ Service of notices on contact person etc.......................................... 173

230........ Instruments under this Act may provide for matters by reference to other instruments            175

231........ This Act does not limit Schedule 8 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992               176

232........ This Act does not limit the Telecommunications Act 1997 .............. 176

233........ Implied freedom of political communication................................... 176

234........ Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws............................ 177

235........ Liability of Australian hosting service providers and internet service providers under State and Territory laws etc......................................................................................................... 177

236........ This Act not to affect performance of State or Territory functions.. 178

237........ Revocation or variation of instruments............................................ 179

238........ Provider of social media service, relevant electronic service, designated internet service or app distribution service........................................................................................................ 179

239........ Extended meaning of use................................................................ 179

239A..... Review of operation of this Act...................................................... 179

240........ Legislative rules.............................................................................. 180

 

A Bill for an Act relating to online safety for Australians, and for other purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts: