Online Platforms Get New Protections From Defamation Under Reforms in NSW

The New South Wales (NSW) government has adopted changes to its Defamation Amendment Act 2023. Together with the ACT, they become the first jurisdictions to modernise defamation laws in Australia. These changes include improving the balance between freedom of speech and protection of reputation when an individual publishes content through a digital intermediary. Among these digital intermediaries are social media platforms, search engines, review websites, service providers, and content hosts. Organisations and entities that use online platforms to host forums that invite third-party commentators, also known as forum administrators, are also included. The move comes after the High Court’s decision in the Fairfax Media Publications v Voller case, which involved several media companies acting as forum administrators....