Australia to Probe Foreign Interference Through Social Media Platforms
The review comes amid heightened Australian concerns that China is seeking to interfere in Canberras affairs, and after U.S.
The bipartisan parliamentary Senate select committee was established after the ruling coalition government-backed the opposition Labor Partys proposal.
The rise of fake news and misinformation campaigns present a very real and present danger to democracy not only in Australia, but across the globe, Labor lawmaker Penny Wong said.
The investigation will need to report its findings by May 2022, around the time Australia will hold its next general election.
No specific national threat was mentioned, but activity suspected to have been undertaken by China has come under increasing scrutiny in Australia in recent years.
In September, Reuters reported Australian intelligence determined China was responsible for a cyber-attack on its national parliament and its three largest political parties.
Last month, Australias domestic spy agency said it was investigating whether China tried to install an agent in federal parliament in what Prime Minister Scott Morrison called deeply disturbing allegations aired in Australian media.
Amid a spate of cyber-attacks on its universities, Australia also last month required higher education facilities to declare financial dealings with foreign universities.
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