Australia will block access to websites hosting terror material during crisis events and will consider legislation to force digital platforms to improve the safety of their devices, Australia PM Scott Morrison said in a statement on August 25. Morrison is in France to take part in the G7 summit. The Australian e-Safety Commissioner is working with industry for a framework to quickly block specific websites hosting terror material. The commissioner would determine on a case-by-case basis what should be censored/blocked "while upholding important internet freedoms". Australia is also establishing an updated crisis management framework, this would include a 24/7 crisis coordination center to monitor and notify government agencies of crisis events involving terrorist and extreme content. The Australian government has also partnered with the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) to fund the development of voluntary transparency reporting protocols on preventing, detecting, and removing terrorist and violent content from platforms. "I am determined to keep driving global support, building on our G20 Statement calling on internet companies to step up and take action," said Morrisson. Following the attacks in Christchurch, Australian internet service providers voluntarily blocked access to offshore websites that were hosting the attacker’s footage and manifest. — Australian PM Scott Morrison The above steps are recommendations of the Taskforce to Combat Terrorist and Extreme Violent Material Online. Facebook, YouTube, Amazon, Microsoft and Twitter, along with Telstra, Vodafone, TPG and Optus are all members of the taskforce and are expected to provide details on how they will carry…
