YouTube, Meta, TikTok reveal misinformation tidal wave
Thousands of misleading videos, scam ads and fake profiles made in Australia have been wiped from online platforms over the past year to address a growing wave of misinformation.
More than 25,000 videos deemed to feature "harmful" fake claims were removed from TikTok and YouTube, reports showed, while unverified and misleading election ads ranked among the most commonly removed content by Meta and Google.
Eight technology companies outlined their actions in transparency reports published on Thursday in accordance with the voluntary Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation.
Several tech firms declined to detail their efforts to tackle fraudulent content in Australia, including social media platforms X and Snapchat.
The statistics follow heightened concern about misinformation online after the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools, and warnings they may be used to create convincing deepfakes and political ads.
US firms including Google, Meta, Twitch, Apple and Microsoft released transparency reports under the industry code, and addressed issues including the identification of misleading claims, safeguards for users, and content removal.
TikTok revealed it removed more than 8.4 million videos from its Australian platform during 2024, including more than 148,000 videos deemed to be inauthentic.
Almost 21,000 of the videos violated the company's "harmful misinformation policies" during the year, the report said, and 80 per cent, on average, were removed before users could view them.
Google removed more than 5100 YouTube videos from Australia identified as misleading, its report said, out of more than 748,000 misleading videos removed worldwide.
Election advertising also raised red flags for tech platforms in Australia, with Google rejecting more than 42,000 political ads from unverified advertisers and Meta removing more than 95,000 ads for failing to comply with its social issues, elections and politics policies.
Meta purged more than 14,000 ads in Australia for violating misinformation rules, took down 350 posts on Facebook and Instagram for misinformation, and showed warnings on 6.9 million posts based on articles from fact-checking partners.
In January, the tech giant announced plans to end fact-checking in the US and its report said it would "continue to evaluate the applicability of these practices" in Australia.
Striking a balance between allowing content to be shared online and ensuring it would not harm others was a "difficult job," Digital Industry Group code reviewer Shaun Davies said, and the reports showed some companies were using AI tools to flag potential violations.
"I was struck in this year's reports by examples of how generative AI is being leveraged for both the creation and detection of (misinformation) and disinformation," he said.
"I'm also heartened that multiple initiatives that make the provenance of AI-generated content more visible to users are starting to bear fruit."
In its report, Microsoft also revealed it had removed more than 1200 users from LinkedIn for sharing misinformation, while Apple identified 2700 valid complaints against 1300 news articles.
Thousands of misleading videos, scam ads and fake profiles made in Australia have been wiped from online platforms over the past year to address a growing wave of misinformation.
More than 25,000 videos deemed to feature "harmful" fake claims were removed from TikTok and YouTube, reports showed, while unverified and misleading election ads ranked among the most commonly removed content by Meta and Google.
Eight technology companies outlined their actions in transparency reports published on Thursday in accordance with the voluntary Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation.
Several tech firms declined to detail their efforts to tackle fraudulent content in Australia, including social media platforms X and Snapchat.
The statistics follow heightened concern about misinformation online after the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools, and warnings they may be used to create convincing deepfakes and political ads.
US firms including Google, Meta, Twitch, Apple and Microsoft released transparency reports under the industry code, and addressed issues including the identification of misleading claims, safeguards for users, and content removal.
TikTok revealed it removed more than 8.4 million videos from its Australian platform during 2024, including more than 148,000 videos deemed to be inauthentic.
Almost 21,000 of the videos violated the company's "harmful misinformation policies" during the year, the report said, and 80 per cent, on average, were removed before users could view them.
Google removed more than 5100 YouTube videos from Australia identified as misleading, its report said, out of more than 748,000 misleading videos removed worldwide.
Election advertising also raised red flags for tech platforms in Australia, with Google rejecting more than 42,000 political ads from unverified advertisers and Meta removing more than 95,000 ads for failing to comply with its social issues, elections and politics policies.
Meta purged more than 14,000 ads in Australia for violating misinformation rules, took down 350 posts on Facebook and Instagram for misinformation, and showed warnings on 6.9 million posts based on articles from fact-checking partners.
In January, the tech giant announced plans to end fact-checking in the US and its report said it would "continue to evaluate the applicability of these practices" in Australia.
Striking a balance between allowing content to be shared online and ensuring it would not harm others was a "difficult job," Digital Industry Group code reviewer Shaun Davies said, and the reports showed some companies were using AI tools to flag potential violations.
"I was struck in this year's reports by examples of how generative AI is being leveraged for both the creation and detection of (misinformation) and disinformation," he said.
"I'm also heartened that multiple initiatives that make the provenance of AI-generated content more visible to users are starting to bear fruit."
In its report, Microsoft also revealed it had removed more than 1200 users from LinkedIn for sharing misinformation, while Apple identified 2700 valid complaints against 1300 news articles.
Thousands of misleading videos, scam ads and fake profiles made in Australia have been wiped from online platforms over the past year to address a growing wave of misinformation.
More than 25,000 videos deemed to feature "harmful" fake claims were removed from TikTok and YouTube, reports showed, while unverified and misleading election ads ranked among the most commonly removed content by Meta and Google.
Eight technology companies outlined their actions in transparency reports published on Thursday in accordance with the voluntary Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation.
Several tech firms declined to detail their efforts to tackle fraudulent content in Australia, including social media platforms X and Snapchat.
The statistics follow heightened concern about misinformation online after the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools, and warnings they may be used to create convincing deepfakes and political ads.
US firms including Google, Meta, Twitch, Apple and Microsoft released transparency reports under the industry code, and addressed issues including the identification of misleading claims, safeguards for users, and content removal.
TikTok revealed it removed more than 8.4 million videos from its Australian platform during 2024, including more than 148,000 videos deemed to be inauthentic.
Almost 21,000 of the videos violated the company's "harmful misinformation policies" during the year, the report said, and 80 per cent, on average, were removed before users could view them.
Google removed more than 5100 YouTube videos from Australia identified as misleading, its report said, out of more than 748,000 misleading videos removed worldwide.
Election advertising also raised red flags for tech platforms in Australia, with Google rejecting more than 42,000 political ads from unverified advertisers and Meta removing more than 95,000 ads for failing to comply with its social issues, elections and politics policies.
Meta purged more than 14,000 ads in Australia for violating misinformation rules, took down 350 posts on Facebook and Instagram for misinformation, and showed warnings on 6.9 million posts based on articles from fact-checking partners.
In January, the tech giant announced plans to end fact-checking in the US and its report said it would "continue to evaluate the applicability of these practices" in Australia.
Striking a balance between allowing content to be shared online and ensuring it would not harm others was a "difficult job," Digital Industry Group code reviewer Shaun Davies said, and the reports showed some companies were using AI tools to flag potential violations.
"I was struck in this year's reports by examples of how generative AI is being leveraged for both the creation and detection of (misinformation) and disinformation," he said.
"I'm also heartened that multiple initiatives that make the provenance of AI-generated content more visible to users are starting to bear fruit."
In its report, Microsoft also revealed it had removed more than 1200 users from LinkedIn for sharing misinformation, while Apple identified 2700 valid complaints against 1300 news articles.
Thousands of misleading videos, scam ads and fake profiles made in Australia have been wiped from online platforms over the past year to address a growing wave of misinformation.
More than 25,000 videos deemed to feature "harmful" fake claims were removed from TikTok and YouTube, reports showed, while unverified and misleading election ads ranked among the most commonly removed content by Meta and Google.
Eight technology companies outlined their actions in transparency reports published on Thursday in accordance with the voluntary Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation.
Several tech firms declined to detail their efforts to tackle fraudulent content in Australia, including social media platforms X and Snapchat.
The statistics follow heightened concern about misinformation online after the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools, and warnings they may be used to create convincing deepfakes and political ads.
US firms including Google, Meta, Twitch, Apple and Microsoft released transparency reports under the industry code, and addressed issues including the identification of misleading claims, safeguards for users, and content removal.
TikTok revealed it removed more than 8.4 million videos from its Australian platform during 2024, including more than 148,000 videos deemed to be inauthentic.
Almost 21,000 of the videos violated the company's "harmful misinformation policies" during the year, the report said, and 80 per cent, on average, were removed before users could view them.
Google removed more than 5100 YouTube videos from Australia identified as misleading, its report said, out of more than 748,000 misleading videos removed worldwide.
Election advertising also raised red flags for tech platforms in Australia, with Google rejecting more than 42,000 political ads from unverified advertisers and Meta removing more than 95,000 ads for failing to comply with its social issues, elections and politics policies.
Meta purged more than 14,000 ads in Australia for violating misinformation rules, took down 350 posts on Facebook and Instagram for misinformation, and showed warnings on 6.9 million posts based on articles from fact-checking partners.
In January, the tech giant announced plans to end fact-checking in the US and its report said it would "continue to evaluate the applicability of these practices" in Australia.
Striking a balance between allowing content to be shared online and ensuring it would not harm others was a "difficult job," Digital Industry Group code reviewer Shaun Davies said, and the reports showed some companies were using AI tools to flag potential violations.
"I was struck in this year's reports by examples of how generative AI is being leveraged for both the creation and detection of (misinformation) and disinformation," he said.
"I'm also heartened that multiple initiatives that make the provenance of AI-generated content more visible to users are starting to bear fruit."
In its report, Microsoft also revealed it had removed more than 1200 users from LinkedIn for sharing misinformation, while Apple identified 2700 valid complaints against 1300 news articles.
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* Parliament will resume to pass an emergency funding bill so essential government services can continue beyond July 1 * Once the bills pass both houses of parliament, Mr Rockliff says he will visit Governor Barbara Baker to call an election, likely in late July * There remains the prospect that Mr Rockliff - who is wedded to the stadium project - could depart as leader, allowing the Liberals a fresh chance to cobble together another minority government without an election, and perhaps the stadium HOW JEREMY ROCKLIFF'S MINORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WAS LEFT IN TATTERS ELECTORAL REFORM * On taking office in 2022, one of Mr Rockliff's first acts as Tasmanian premier was to back the return of a 35-seat House of Assembly, up from 25, to reduce the workload on ministers and MPs * Given Tasmania's Senate-like lower house, this made it easier for independents and Greens to win seats, producing a hung parliament at the 2024 election MINORITY MAYHEM * Mr Rockliff's Liberals suffered a 12 per cent swing against them at the 2024 poll but remained parliament's biggest party, with 14 MPs to Labor's 10 and the five Greens * To govern, Mr Rockliff signed deals with five other crossbenchers, including various promises he has struggled to fulfil, straining relationships SPIRITS SAGA * The biggest turbulence for the Rockliff government has been its botched replacement of Spirit of Tasmania ferries, the critical sea link to the mainland * Two Finland-built ships were due in 2024, but the new berth in Devonport won't be ready until 2026, with costs blowing out from $90 million to $495 million * Michael Ferguson took the fall, resigning as infrastructure minister in August and then, as a no-confidence motion loomed, as Treasurer in October AFL ASPIRATION * An Australian Rules state to its boots, Tasmania has always coveted a place in the AFL and got it in 2022 when a bid championed by former premier Peter Gutwein was realised by Mr Rockliff * The deal came with strings attached - the AFL will pay the least, but demands a roofed stadium close to the inner-city * The federal government does not pay as much as the state government, which also crucially, is on the hook for cost overruns - already into the hundreds of millions STADIUM STRUGGLES * The huge stadium project has drawn opposition, with some saying it's in the wrong spot, including Hobart City Council and the RSL, given the proximity to heritage and a nearby war memorial * Economists attack dubious return-on-investment projections; engineers doubt the feasibility of the Macquarie Point site, and those outside of Hobart feel it's an over-the-top investment, especially given the state's health and housing woes BUDGET BLOWOUT * The final straw - at least to Labor - was new Treasurer Guy Barnett's budget unveiled in May * The Liberals unveiled deficits as far as the eye could see and ballooning debt to $10 billion - a huge amount for a state of 550,000 people * The blowout drew huge criticism inside and outside parliament LABOR EMBOLDENED * The Labor opposition has suffered four election defeats in a row, the past three under Rebecca White, but has enjoyed a poll uptick under new leader Dean Winter * Mr Winter sees a government on the ropes and enough of the crossbench agree * Labor was emboldened by the huge support Tasmanians offered to candidates in the federal election, with four of the five seats now in Labor hands DEADLOCK BROKEN * After two days of debate, a vote on Mr Winter's motion of no confidence was finally taken * With the result locked at 17-17, Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne cast a deciding vote with her party, ending Mr Rockliff's premiership * Mr Winter ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens - without which Labor doesn't have the numbers - in effect making an election a certainty WHAT NEXT? * Parliament will resume to pass an emergency funding bill so essential government services can continue beyond July 1 * Once the bills pass both houses of parliament, Mr Rockliff says he will visit Governor Barbara Baker to call an election, likely in late July * There remains the prospect that Mr Rockliff - who is wedded to the stadium project - could depart as leader, allowing the Liberals a fresh chance to cobble together another minority government without an election, and perhaps the stadium HOW JEREMY ROCKLIFF'S MINORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WAS LEFT IN TATTERS ELECTORAL REFORM * On taking office in 2022, one of Mr Rockliff's first acts as Tasmanian premier was to back the return of a 35-seat House of Assembly, up from 25, to reduce the workload on ministers and MPs * Given Tasmania's Senate-like lower house, this made it easier for independents and Greens to win seats, producing a hung parliament at the 2024 election MINORITY MAYHEM * Mr Rockliff's Liberals suffered a 12 per cent swing against them at the 2024 poll but remained parliament's biggest party, with 14 MPs to Labor's 10 and the five Greens * To govern, Mr Rockliff signed deals with five other crossbenchers, including various promises he has struggled to fulfil, straining relationships SPIRITS SAGA * The biggest turbulence for the Rockliff government has been its botched replacement of Spirit of Tasmania ferries, the critical sea link to the mainland * Two Finland-built ships were due in 2024, but the new berth in Devonport won't be ready until 2026, with costs blowing out from $90 million to $495 million * Michael Ferguson took the fall, resigning as infrastructure minister in August and then, as a no-confidence motion loomed, as Treasurer in October AFL ASPIRATION * An Australian Rules state to its boots, Tasmania has always coveted a place in the AFL and got it in 2022 when a bid championed by former premier Peter Gutwein was realised by Mr Rockliff * The deal came with strings attached - the AFL will pay the least, but demands a roofed stadium close to the inner-city * The federal government does not pay as much as the state government, which also crucially, is on the hook for cost overruns - already into the hundreds of millions STADIUM STRUGGLES * The huge stadium project has drawn opposition, with some saying it's in the wrong spot, including Hobart City Council and the RSL, given the proximity to heritage and a nearby war memorial * Economists attack dubious return-on-investment projections; engineers doubt the feasibility of the Macquarie Point site, and those outside of Hobart feel it's an over-the-top investment, especially given the state's health and housing woes BUDGET BLOWOUT * The final straw - at least to Labor - was new Treasurer Guy Barnett's budget unveiled in May * The Liberals unveiled deficits as far as the eye could see and ballooning debt to $10 billion - a huge amount for a state of 550,000 people * The blowout drew huge criticism inside and outside parliament LABOR EMBOLDENED * The Labor opposition has suffered four election defeats in a row, the past three under Rebecca White, but has enjoyed a poll uptick under new leader Dean Winter * Mr Winter sees a government on the ropes and enough of the crossbench agree * Labor was emboldened by the huge support Tasmanians offered to candidates in the federal election, with four of the five seats now in Labor hands DEADLOCK BROKEN * After two days of debate, a vote on Mr Winter's motion of no confidence was finally taken * With the result locked at 17-17, Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne cast a deciding vote with her party, ending Mr Rockliff's premiership * Mr Winter ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens - without which Labor doesn't have the numbers - in effect making an election a certainty WHAT NEXT? * Parliament will resume to pass an emergency funding bill so essential government services can continue beyond July 1 * Once the bills pass both houses of parliament, Mr Rockliff says he will visit Governor Barbara Baker to call an election, likely in late July * There remains the prospect that Mr Rockliff - who is wedded to the stadium project - could depart as leader, allowing the Liberals a fresh chance to cobble together another minority government without an election, and perhaps the stadium HOW JEREMY ROCKLIFF'S MINORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WAS LEFT IN TATTERS ELECTORAL REFORM * On taking office in 2022, one of Mr Rockliff's first acts as Tasmanian premier was to back the return of a 35-seat House of Assembly, up from 25, to reduce the workload on ministers and MPs * Given Tasmania's Senate-like lower house, this made it easier for independents and Greens to win seats, producing a hung parliament at the 2024 election MINORITY MAYHEM * Mr Rockliff's Liberals suffered a 12 per cent swing against them at the 2024 poll but remained parliament's biggest party, with 14 MPs to Labor's 10 and the five Greens * To govern, Mr Rockliff signed deals with five other crossbenchers, including various promises he has struggled to fulfil, straining relationships SPIRITS SAGA * The biggest turbulence for the Rockliff government has been its botched replacement of Spirit of Tasmania ferries, the critical sea link to the mainland * Two Finland-built ships were due in 2024, but the new berth in Devonport won't be ready until 2026, with costs blowing out from $90 million to $495 million * Michael Ferguson took the fall, resigning as infrastructure minister in August and then, as a no-confidence motion loomed, as Treasurer in October AFL ASPIRATION * An Australian Rules state to its boots, Tasmania has always coveted a place in the AFL and got it in 2022 when a bid championed by former premier Peter Gutwein was realised by Mr Rockliff * The deal came with strings attached - the AFL will pay the least, but demands a roofed stadium close to the inner-city * The federal government does not pay as much as the state government, which also crucially, is on the hook for cost overruns - already into the hundreds of millions STADIUM STRUGGLES * The huge stadium project has drawn opposition, with some saying it's in the wrong spot, including Hobart City Council and the RSL, given the proximity to heritage and a nearby war memorial * Economists attack dubious return-on-investment projections; engineers doubt the feasibility of the Macquarie Point site, and those outside of Hobart feel it's an over-the-top investment, especially given the state's health and housing woes BUDGET BLOWOUT * The final straw - at least to Labor - was new Treasurer Guy Barnett's budget unveiled in May * The Liberals unveiled deficits as far as the eye could see and ballooning debt to $10 billion - a huge amount for a state of 550,000 people * The blowout drew huge criticism inside and outside parliament LABOR EMBOLDENED * The Labor opposition has suffered four election defeats in a row, the past three under Rebecca White, but has enjoyed a poll uptick under new leader Dean Winter * Mr Winter sees a government on the ropes and enough of the crossbench agree * Labor was emboldened by the huge support Tasmanians offered to candidates in the federal election, with four of the five seats now in Labor hands DEADLOCK BROKEN * After two days of debate, a vote on Mr Winter's motion of no confidence was finally taken * With the result locked at 17-17, Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne cast a deciding vote with her party, ending Mr Rockliff's premiership * Mr Winter ruled out forming government in a deal with the Greens - without which Labor doesn't have the numbers - in effect making an election a certainty WHAT NEXT? * Parliament will resume to pass an emergency funding bill so essential government services can continue beyond July 1 * Once the bills pass both houses of parliament, Mr Rockliff says he will visit Governor Barbara Baker to call an election, likely in late July * There remains the prospect that Mr Rockliff - who is wedded to the stadium project - could depart as leader, allowing the Liberals a fresh chance to cobble together another minority government without an election, and perhaps the stadium
