Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is evaluating a range of enforcement actions to address threats and harassment directed at female politicians on its platforms. This review comes after discussions with Australian women leaders who highlighted the escalating online abuse they face.
"Women should be able to represent their communities, share their work and participate in public debate without facing threats, sexualised abuse or harassment," Meta stated. The company has engaged with elected officials across the political spectrum, including Communications Minister Anika Wells and a Labor committee of female MPs and senators. These discussions emphasized the need for a more proactive approach to online safety, particularly in the wake of a recent car-ramming attack that left independent MP Helen Haines with severe injuries.
Meta is examining how parliamentary offices manage the volume of comments received and assessing the utility of its tools for public figures. The company also noted its 2021 policy updates aimed at combating abuse disproportionately affecting women, such as sexualized content and veiled threats. Meta acknowledged that those who seek to harass adapt their tactics and committed to continuous evaluation and updating of its efforts.
Communications Minister Anika Wells welcomed Meta's commitment, asserting that all Australians have "the right to be safe at work." She highlighted that the abuse, threats, and harassment directed at politicians and their staff online have become more frequent and severe, especially for women. Wells has urged Meta to provide practical solutions for enhancing platform safety and empowering users to protect themselves.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett reported that the agency handled nearly 800 protective security reports involving parliamentarians in the first six months of the year. These reports indicated that women are three times more likely than men to be targeted with sexualized or gender-based threats. Barrett also noted that threats against male parliamentarians often include gendered insults questioning their strength or masculinity.
According to Barrett, threats to parliamentarians generally fall into four categories: policies, perceived performance, profile, and personality. She explained that not only inflammatory comments but also general debate can incite hate, with some parliamentarians targeted based on their accent, appearance, or political affiliation. The Commissioner observed an immediate link between policy announcements or comments and subsequent threats being sent.