How Anthony Albanese is the biggest spender on Facebook ads despite pushing ‘misinformation’ laws

The Australian government is the country’s top spender on Facebook ads, despite pushing through misinformation laws that could see social media companies fined for apparently harmful opinions.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government remains a major customer of Facebook, despite Labour’s Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2024 proposing fines of up to 5 percent of global revenue.

Under Labor’s proposed laws, social media companies would face stiff penalties if the Australian Communications and Media Authority has an issue with posts that disrupt elections or public health advice, or defame groups of people based on race, religion or gender identity.

Despite its misgivings about “serious harm” on social media, the federal government was the largest spender of Facebook ads in the 90 days to November 11.

The Australian government topped the list, spending $388,711 on 92 Facebook ads, including Average $4,225 per ad.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Aging also ranked ninth with $229,480 spent on 90 Facebook spots.

It was far from the Commonwealth’s only major spender: the Department of Social Services ranked 29th, spending $72,349 on 67 Facebook ads.

Over the past three months, the Australian government has spent a lot of money on Facebook advertising historically for four years, as of August 2020.

The Australian Electoral Commission was fifth on the list, spending $2,354,346 on 276 advertisements, despite the government’s concerns about social media posts that could potentially “damage the operation or integrity of an election or referendum process in Australia’.

After Greenpeace, the Australian Labor Party was the second largest spender of Facebook ads in four years, spending $3,079,270 across 5,513 places.

The Yes23 campaign for the Aboriginal Voice was seventh on the list, spending $2,310,770 on 10,222 advertisements, only to lose the October 2023 referendum by a landslide, with 60 percent of Australians voting ‘no’.

Yes campaigner Megan Davis had accused the No side of misinformation and disinformation.

The Australian government ranked 12th over a four-year period, based on disclaimers, spending $1,507,764 on 352 advertisements.

The Department of Social Services, in 13th place, spent $1,478,074 on 390 ads.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told the Sydney Institute this week that false information on social media platforms is a problem.

“You cannot take online safety or democracy seriously if your position on harmful misinformation and disinformation is tolerating inaction,” she said.

Despite its doubts about ‘serious harm’ on social media, the federal government was the largest spender of Facebook ads in the 90 days to November 11 (photo, vaccine protesters)

Labor Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told the Sydney Institute this week that false information on social media platforms is a problem

The government argues that the bill only requires social media companies to keep registers on misinformation and disinformation, rather than giving ACMA the direct power to have online content removed.

‘“Parliament now has the opportunity to lift the cap on big tech and bring unprecedented transparency and accountability to the actions of digital platforms when it comes to seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation online,” Ms Rowland said.

“These reforms require digital platforms to have systems and processes in place to deal with seriously harmful information that is false, misleading or deceptive.”

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman is opposed, with the opposition claiming Labour’s Disinformation and Disinformation Bill is too subjective and will destroy freedom of speech.

“This is one of the worst bills introduced by any Australian government,” he said.

‘It would have a chilling effect on freedom of expression. It would mean that government regulators would ultimately decide what can and cannot be said.

‘This is completely unacceptable in a democracy. There is no place for it in this country and that is why the Coalition will continue to oppose this legislation.”