Australian state moves to expand social media liability laws
( July 20, 2026, 01:39 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: An Australian state government has pledged to introduce legislation making it easier for families to sue social media and AI companies for negligence causing psychiatric harm to children, removing the current requirement to prove a permanent impairment of at least 10 percent before bringing a claim. The proposed reforms published Sunday would also give the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal new powers to order social media companies to identify anonymous users accused of online vilification. The Victorian government said overseas courts have found platforms liable for designing addictive features aimed at children and will consider whether the negligence reforms should later be extended to adults. The measures will be developed following consultation with the civil and administrative tribunal, the courts and other stakeholders, the government said.Statement follows. ...
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