COMPLAINTS

This form can be used to make a complaint to DIGI about a breach of the Australian Disinformation and Misinformation Code of Practice by signatories to the code.

Please note that DIGI only accepts complaints from the Australian public where they believe a signatory has materially breached the code’s commitments. DIGI cannot accept complaints about individual items of content on signatories’ products or services, and ask that these be directed to the signatory via their reporting mechanisms or otherwise.

Please allow time to complete the form, and note that your responses will not be automatically saved before you submit.  Before commencing the form, know that it covers:

  • Your eligibility to issue a complaint under the Australian Disinformation and Misinformation Code of Practice. Please familiarise yourself with the code before making a complaint.
  • Nomination of a specific signatory, and their specific commitment under the code that you believe has been breached.
  • Correspondence that you have had to date with the signatory, along with supporting documentation.
  • A description of where you believe the signatory has breached the commitment you have nominated, along with supporting documentation.
  • A declaration that all information that you have provided is true and correct and that you have agreed to DIGI’s privacy policy.

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READ THE COMPLAINTS FACILITY’S TERMS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if a signatory is found to be in breach of the code?

The Complaints Sub-committee can decide the resolution of a complaint about potential material breaches of the Code based on the severity of the breach, taking steps that range from public statements, investigations and withdrawing a company from the code. However, the aim of the complaints facility is to actually resolve the complaints, so as to have a positive impact on mis- and disinformation in Australia; this will involve working constructively with signatories on the steps they can take to improve compliance with their code commitments.

Why can’t people make complaints about specific pieces of misinformation and disinformation content to DIGI?

The aim of the code is to drive improvements and transparency on the measures that signatories take to deal with misinformation and disinformation in Australia. The complaints facility’s approach is consistent with that aim. DIGI will accept complaints from the Australian public where they believe a signatory has materially breached the code’s commitments. Complaints about individual items of content on signatories’ products or services should be directed to the signatory via their reporting mechanisms or otherwise. The code requires all signatories to have such reporting mechanisms.

What structures have you put into place to prevent conflicts of interest for DIGI in this governance arrangement?

Self-regulatory codes of practice developed by industry associations are used in a range of industries, including the media, advertising and telecommunications. DIGI’s handling of complaints is oversighted by the independent Complaints Sub-committee. As the code developer, DIGI acts as secretary on this Complaints Sub-Committee, but has no vote on decisions regarding complaints brought to it, in order to avoid conflicts of interest as an industry association.

How will the independent attestation of the transparency reports be undertaken?

The independent reviewer will verify claims in each signatory’s transparency report going forward, including whether they have published and implemented policies and processes that comply with their obligations, and verifying that those initiatives are accessible to Australia users. If the independent reviewer can’t attest a claim, it advises the Administration Sub-committee comprised of independent representatives and signatories. The signatory must either amend and resubmit the reports to the reviewer for further assessment or provide written reasons as to why they dispute the reviewer’s assessment, which would be published with their transparency reports on the DIGI website.

MORE INFO

For more information, please email us at hello@digi.org.au. For press enquiries, please email press@digi.org.au

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