Crossbench pushes free ombudsman to fight tech giants
Sophie Scamps will today move an amendment creating an industry-funded ombudsman to handle tech complaints.
Australian tech users could get free help through a new independent ombudsman, under a crossbench amendment being voted on today. Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps is proposing the service be industry-funded and housed within the existing Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.
Labor's digital duty of care bill already requires tech platforms to fix complaints faster, but the ombudsman would provide an external appeal avenue. Independents and the Greens back the plan, saying many Australians feel powerless when locked out of accounts or trying to remove harmful content.
Labor has the numbers to pass the bill in the lower house today but needs Greens support to get it through the Senate.
- Sophie Scamps
- Mover
- 16 and over
- Minimum age for algorithm opt-out
Why it mattersAustralians struggling with social media lockouts or content disputes would gain a free way to challenge tech companies instead of just accepting their decisions.
AustraliaAustralian social media users and small business owners facing account suspensions or content removal would get a free external appeal process.
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