The federal government and national safety commissioner have urged social media giants to stamp out hate speech and misinformation during the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum campaign, saying that tech companies must be on high alert for racist abuse.
The warning to tech companies comes in the wake of research by the eSafety Commission launched Tuesday that shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are almost three times more likely to experience online hate speech than the national average.
The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the commission's research "reveals negative experiences online can have a profound impact on young First Nations people, triggering feelings like sadness and anger or a sense of isolation".
Ms Inman Grant told ABC Radio the results were "pretty shocking," and showed Aboriginal youth were experiencing online hate and racism at a level even higher than that suffered by Aboriginal adults.
She said it was important to understand the "real-life impacts" these comments have on Indigenous youth, noting that respondents said online abuse "…impacts their mental health, it impacts their grades and their schooling, and it impacts their reputation in the community".
Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland MP said the Albanese government took the findings of the report "very seriously".
"The Albanese Government is committed to building a safe, positive and respectful online environment for First Nations people," she said.
"First Nations digital inclusion is a priority… There is no place in Australia for hate."
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said whilst technology is a "great tool to build connection, support identity and boost civic engagement" there were also risks.
"Today's research from the eSafety Commissioner is a reminder… Indigenous Australians more likely to be exposed to harmful content or hate speech attacks," she said.
"As with so many other areas where disadvantage undermines health and wellbeing, more work is needed to ensure equal protections and access to the good things the internet can provide."
There is concern hate speech will increase for First Nations people online as the referendum draws closer.
Ms Inman Grant pointed out the LGBTQ+ community experienced a surge in abuse in the lead up to the 2017 marriage equality plebiscite.
"We know online hate, misogyny, racism is designed to intimidate and silence voices," she told Guardian Australia.
The Commissioner said whilst the report was concerning, what was promising in their research was the "high degree of resourcefulness and resilience" First Nations people demonstrated when dealing with online abuse. This included "taking positive and proactive steps such as blocking or deleting, reaching out to friends, families, schools or police, and changing privacy settings".
Head of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University, Professor Bronwyn Carlson, told ABC radio: "One of the fabulous things about this report is that it actually has identified very clearly that Indigenous kids have a high level of literacy in this space…they are all digital kids these days, they're all hooked up and online."
"But they also have to be very wary. The thing with social media is it pretty much mirrors the world in which we live - it's not separate," she said.
The First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (FNDIAG) said they are "exploring" the best way to support the digital literacy of First Nations people.
"Online safety continues to be a key concern for First Nations people, including the need to support a safe and secure online experience for families and their children."
Minister Rowland will meet the eSafety Advisory Committee next week to discuss the role of digital platforms in protecting and supporting Indigenous Australians during the referendum. They are engaging with TikTok, Twitter, Microsoft, Google and others.
Ms Inman Grant said the committee was seeking the policies of the tech giants around the vote and then would provide "guidance about what more we expect them to do".
The eSafety Commission offers new resources to help support First Nations people online, including advice and support in multiple languages. The commissioner has urged all people to continue to report any abuse to https://www.esafety.gov.au/.
