Victoria announces new social media ‘demasking’ powers for accounts accused of vilification

New laws would give Vcat power to force social and AI platforms to identify anonymous users in move premier says will protect children Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Social media companies could be forced to identify anonymous accounts accused of online vilification, under new laws being proposed in Victoria. The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, announced a suite of social media reforms on Sunday, saying families needed new ways to protect their children online. But the opposition has suggested the laws might not see the light of day before November’s state election, despite Allan insisting they would be introduced as a priority. Under the proposed changes – the first for an Australian state – the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal (Vcat) would be granted “demasking” powers to order platforms to reveal the identities of account holders in those cases. The state government will also lower the legal threshold to sue social media and artificial intelligence platforms for negligence causing psychiatric harm to children. Current laws require families to prove a child has suffered a permanent impairment of at least 10% before pursuing dama