We all know the internet can be a source for good, but it’s also a front for internet trolls to do untold damage.
Liberal MP for the seat of Fisher Andrew Wallace has suggested social media companies must collect 100 points of identification to remove anonymity from their platforms.
Wallace introduced a motion calling on the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, to bring in ID verification for social media within 12 months. He said that “the identification of people who use social media accounts is as important as age verification”.
“One of the biggest problems we have with social media is anonymity. If you hide behind, anonymity, you can say whatever you like, without fear of being sued for defamation, without fear of having a knock on the door from police.”
I see the good intentions behind this push, but boy do I have some problems with it.
Every other week, if not every week, there are stories in the media about massive data breaches. The thought of handing over 100 points of ID verification to one of the vast social media platforms makes me more than nervous, it would make me terrified.
Giving vast social media companies enough identity to open a bank account in my name should not happen. They can’t even take defamatory comments off their sites, much less provide the sort of security to protect people from ID theft or scams.
Sorry Mr Wallace, there are no assurances in the world that would make me hand over that sort of information.
Would you hand it over?
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