Social media platforms are “true monsters” whose algorithms torment children and prey on the elderly whilst doing nothing more than tear and fray the social fabric, according to News Corp Australia executive chair Michael Miller, who has called for media organisations to unite against tech companies seeking copyright changes to access content for free.
Miller told the Melbourne Press Club on Wednesday that social media was rife with misinformation, disinformation and rabbit holes, reports The Guardian. The executive chair blamed social media for social cohesion issues across the globe, whilst arguing that the media must present a united front against platforms and AI companies seeking content without payment.
Miller said: “They are the true monsters at our gates, and our content is crucial to their success. It should not be taken or given away for free.” The executive chair questioned why social media companies face different accountability standards compared to telecommunications companies, asking: “Where is the same level of accountability being demanded for social media companies whose algorithms torment our children, prey on the elderly and are responsible for the rise of self-harm and also loss of life?”
The comments followed the regulatory response to the Optus triple zero outage in September, with Miller questioning how there could be one set of rules for companies like Optus while tech companies refuse to follow rules.
Miller called for the federal government to rule out changing Australian copyright law to grant a text and data mining exemption for artificial intelligence companies to train on copyrighted works without paying media companies, film studios, artists, or authors. Tech companies have lobbied the government for a new exemption in copyright law, which the Productivity Commission has consulted on in recent months.
The News Corp chair said such an exemption would legitimise theft and dismissed claims that it is needed to attract billions of dollars in investment in data centres based in Australia as lacking foundation and evidence. Miller questioned why the tech lobby had put minimal effort into quantifying benefits when the cost they seek to impose on media is high and quantifiable.
Miller described the situation as the second big steal by tech companies, with the first being advertising moving from news media to social media. The executive chair argued media organisations had much in common and needed unity, stating: “I think we’ve all got 90% of what we do is in common … but too often we point out our differences to the detriment of our own reputations. And we look like an industry divided rather than one which is cohesive and understand that we do have a common issue which is fundamental to our survival as an industry.”
Miller said the under-16s social media ban, which News Corp campaigned for, must be adhered to when it commences on 10 December. Responding to questions on potential retaliatory action from the Trump administration in the US, Miller stated that foreign companies operating in the US are expected to abide by US law, whilst companies operating in Australia are expected to abide by Australian law, adding that the matter was not complicated.
