Four of the internet’s biggest names are expected to face tough questions in parliament about the impact of social media.
Executives from Meta, Google, TikTok and Snapchat are scheduled to appear before the Social Media and Australian Society inquiry on Friday.
Questions are expected to focus on harmful and illegal content on digital platforms, age verification proposals and deals to compensate Australian media outlets for news content.
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The inquiry was called in May after Facebook’s parent company Meta said it would not renew deals struck with publishers under the News Media Bargaining Code, in a move estimated to cost the companies $70 million.
On Tuesday, the inquiry heard Treasury officials had given Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones advice on taxation measures that could be taken to “encourage or force” Meta to pay news producers.
The assistant treasurer was also advised on “must-carry” rules to ensure Meta did not ban local news from Facebook as it had done in Canada, the inquiry was told.
Jones may also choose to designate Meta under the code, which would force the tech giant back to the negotiating table under the threat of fines as high as 10 per cent of its local revenue.
Google, which also struck deals with outlets under the code, is understood to be in talks to renew agreements with Australian publishers.
In addition to probing news deals, the inquiry is expected to address harmful content on digital platforms including scams and extreme violence, social media’s impact on mental health and proposed bans for children under the age of 16.
The committee is expected to deliver its recommendations in November.
