The concern over a recent Instagram announcement regarding copyright laws shows how important it is to ensure we have clearly explained protections for social media users, the Australian Greens said.
“The Greens want guaranteed protections for consumers against commercial exploitation by social media corporations,” the Greens’ consumer affairs spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.
“I will be investigating what laws can be put in place to protect peoples’ digital privacy while also protecting them from commercial exploitation online.
“Social media is an incredibly powerful tool for change in the world, with many positive benefits, but we need to make sure that people are also aware of the risks.
“The growing prevalence of social media in our lives means people need to understand their rights as well as exactly what’s at risk.
“Of course, everyone should be able to give out as little or as much information as they want online, but it is crucial that people be told, in clear language, what their photos and personal details could be used for.
“Many people are already subscribed to various social media sites without knowing exactly how their data is going to be used.
“Recent innovations mean social media companies now have access to our personal information on a level never seen before.”
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