Apple is set to join Google and Amazon in providing testimony for an investigation into the impact of major tech companies in Australia. This inquiry, initiated by the Australian Senate in response to concerns about the substantial influence of big tech on the country's markets and democracy, has been ongoing since September 2022.
In a parliamentary inquiry scheduled for Tuesday, Google will address the committee and emphasize that digital platform providers bear a responsibility in combating online misinformation. Google acknowledges the complexity of this challenge, noting in a previous submission to the committee that there is no single solution ("silver bullet") to address it.
Google highlights the delicate balance it faces in addressing misinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression, emphasizing its crucial responsibility to users in curbing the spread of false information. The tech giant contends that governments should ensure that platforms have strategies in place to counter disinformation, and these plans should be subject to regular reporting and re-evaluation as necessary.
This move signifies the tech industry's engagement with concerns over disinformation and its impact on society, as it faces scrutiny from Australian lawmakers.
