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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Karp

Proposed anti-trolling laws could worsen online abuse, Australian law experts say

View of social media apps on a smartphone
In submissions made to the attorney-general’s department, law experts say anonymous online commenters are unlikely to agree to releasing their details. Photograph: Jenny Kane/AP

The Law Council and defamation experts have panned the Coalition’s anti-trolling bill, warning it will deprive defamation victims of redress and does little to solve the problem of online trolling.

The Law Council and academics David Rolph and Michael Douglas have warned giving companies operating social media pages a defence may worsen online abuse and harm victims’ access to justice, while new complaints procedures still allow anonymous commenters to block release of their details.

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