Nothing there he just caught the disease from poor old Swannie
Wayne Swan says 'breaking up social media' should be an option combating fake newsBy AAP10:39am Dec 7, 2019
Labor national president Wayne Swan has raised the prospect of breaking up social media giants like Facebook for spreading fake news and hate.
The former federal treasurer hit out at internet behemoths for not addressing the spread of political misinformation on their platforms.
"Nothing - including breaking up the social media platforms where the concentration of their market power is damaging society - should be off the table," he told the Towards 2022 conference in Sydney today.
Wayne Swan takes aim at the social media giants. (AAP)
Mr Swan said social media giants should be recognised as publishers with the responsibility to ensure misinformation and hate isn't spread.
He also wants accountability for how platforms collect, store and use people's data.
That includes who the companies are partnering with and how algorithms shape user behaviour.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is also expected to use the conference to needle Facebook for robbing Australia's political debate of civility.
