Meta to keep factcheckers for Australian election
Josh Taylor
Factcheckers will be in operation on posts on Facebook and Instagram during the Australian federal election this year, with the move to ditch factcheckers limited to the US for now.
In a blog post on Tuesday night, Meta’s head of policy in Australia, Cheryl Seeto, said Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press would continue to independently review content during the federal election campaign.
Where content is debunked, a warning label will be attached to the posts and its distribution will be limited. However, this will not apply to content posted by politicians – except if they’re sharing a post that has been already factchecked.
AAP will also work with Meta on a new media literacy campaign to help Australians “critically assess the content they view online”.
The company said it would remove the “most serious kinds” of misinformation, including threats of violence or physical harm, or those that attempt to interfere with voting.
Meta will also apply labels to AI-generated content where it is determined to be AI-generated, and AI content is also eligible for factchecking.
The revision of Meta’s hateful conduct policy now applies globally, however, meaning political advertising that previously wouldn’t have been allowed on Meta’s platform may now be allowed. The company would not speak on hypotheticals, but it is understood the controversial Clive Palmer ads in newspapers last week would have been allowed.
Key events
Severe weather warning for north Queensland
A flood-weary region is bracing for yet more rain, stalling its recovery from a deluge that turned deadly, Australian Associated Press reports.
A severe weather warning has been issued for a saturated north Queensland after enduring days of downpours.
More heavy rain may lead to flash flooding on the northeast tropical coast spanning Cardwell down to Ayr, with six hourly totals up to 160mm possible on Wednesday.
There’s also a risk of severe thunderstorms from Cairns down to Bowen, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.
The region is still reeling from record February falls which triggered widespread flooding that forced people to evacuate and isolated communities.
Meta to keep factcheckers for Australian election
Josh Taylor
Factcheckers will be in operation on posts on Facebook and Instagram during the Australian federal election this year, with the move to ditch factcheckers limited to the US for now.
In a blog post on Tuesday night, Meta’s head of policy in Australia, Cheryl Seeto, said Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press would continue to independently review content during the federal election campaign.
Where content is debunked, a warning label will be attached to the posts and its distribution will be limited. However, this will not apply to content posted by politicians – except if they’re sharing a post that has been already factchecked.
AAP will also work with Meta on a new media literacy campaign to help Australians “critically assess the content they view online”.
The company said it would remove the “most serious kinds” of misinformation, including threats of violence or physical harm, or those that attempt to interfere with voting.
Meta will also apply labels to AI-generated content where it is determined to be AI-generated, and AI content is also eligible for factchecking.
The revision of Meta’s hateful conduct policy now applies globally, however, meaning political advertising that previously wouldn’t have been allowed on Meta’s platform may now be allowed. The company would not speak on hypotheticals, but it is understood the controversial Clive Palmer ads in newspapers last week would have been allowed.
Greens propose grants and low-interest loans to boost electrification
The Greens are spruiking grants and low-interest loans to electrify households and small businesses, which they say will reduce energy bills and reduce emissions.
The electrification plan would provide support for homes and small businesses to disconnect from gas, through technologies like induction cooktops, heat pumps and EV chargers. Grants of up to $10,000 and low-interest loans of up to $20,000 would be on offer for households, while small businesses would get access to grants of up to $25,000 and low-interest loans of up to $100,000.
The proposal also includes grants and low-interest loans for households and small businesses to get battery storage.
Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) costings show the plan to get households and small businesses off gas would cost around $5bn in the forward estimates, and support to install batteries would cost around $3bn.
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says in a wealthy country, “everyone should have clean, cheap energy”.
Getting homes off gas reduces pollution and helps bring down energy bills. It’s good for your health and it’s good for the environment.
Welcome
Martin Farrer
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Emily Wind with the main action.
The leaders of Australian business and workers will face off today at the National Press Club to debate the future of workplace relations. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, Andrew McKellar, will argue in a debate with union leader Michele O’Neil that whoever wins this year’s federal election must repeal labour laws that he says have stalled productivity and disadvantaged businesses. Separately, a report warns that more Australian businesses will fold this year because of US disruption. More coming up.
Talking of the election, the head of policy in Australia for Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said the news agencies Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press will continue to independently review content during the federal election campaign. Cheryl Seeto said the company’s controversial move to ditch factcheckers was limited to the US for now. More details soon.
The Greens are spruiking grants and low-interest loans to electrify households and small businesses, which they say will reduce energy bills and reduce emissions. More coming up.