The South Australian government has announced stringent new legislation targeting the sharing and posting of violent or illegal content online. Introduced recently, this law permits individuals to face up to two years in prison for such actions, irrespective of whether anyone involved in the content has been charged. Attorney-General Kyam Maher remarked on the concerning trend of individuals glorifying reckless behaviour, including reckless driving and public fights.
The proposed “post and boast” legislation is designed with the intent to protect victims from the distress of encountering their experiences revisited through the online circulation of offensive material. However, there will be exemptions allowing the sharing of this kind of content for valid public purposes.
These measures come in response to growing concerns about the impact of online violence, although the Attorney-General refrained from directly attributing these laws to an increase in youth crime. The state government anticipates that the legislation will be enacted by mid-year, aiming to deter harmful online behaviour while balancing the rights of victims with legitimate public interests.