The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) may soon be granted greater regulatory powers against disinformation and misinformation online. The Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher announced the new powers following the release of an ACMA report on digital platforms’ current disinformation and news quality measures. The report found that four-in-five Australians have seen “misinformation about COVID-19” and that people who “believe COVID misinformation” had lower levels of trust for health officials and authoritative sources. “Digital platforms must take responsibility for what is on their sites and take action when harmful or misleading content appears,” Fletcher said. This is our government’s clear expectation—and just as we have backed that expectation with action in recently passing the new Online Safety Act, we are taking action when it comes to disinformation and misinformation.” The government has welcomed all five recommendations made by the report, including giving the ACMA formal information-gathering powers and improved …