MELBOURNE (Reuters), – Australia’s Communications Minister Paul Fletcher announced on Sunday that he is looking at a number of options to increase the accountability of social media platforms for publishing defamatory material.

Fletcher stated that they expect stronger platforms. He spoke on behalf of the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Fletcher also said, “For a long period, they have been getting away with not accepting any responsibility for content posted on their websites.”

Intensifying a debate over the country’s libel and defamation laws, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday called social media “a coward’s palace https://www.reuters.com/technology/australian-law-chief-wants-defamation-rules-fixed-internet-age-letter-2021-10-07”, saying platforms should be treated as publishers when defamatory comments by unidentified people are posted.

Fletcher indicated that Fletcher was considering this possibility and the extent to which platforms like Twitter (NYSE:), and Facebook(NASDAQ:) are responsible for defamatory content published on their websites.

Fletcher responded that the government is considering laws to fine social media sites for defamatory content.

“We’ll look at it. “We’ll be going through a carefully, methodical process,” said he. We are tackling the notion that online content can be published with impunity in a variety of ways.

Last month, the country’s top court decided that online forum public comments can be made by publishers. This ruling has pitted Facebook against news organizations.

This also raised alarm in all the sectors who interact with the public through social media. It has also given rise to a renewed urgency for a review of Australia’s defamation laws.