Safeguarding Online Community: New Laws Combat Harmful Content and Deepfakes
Important Legislative Changes: Protecting Our Community Online
Recent changes in South Australian legislation aim to protect individuals and communities from harmful online behaviour. Two new laws were introduced in 2025 to address serious issues: the sharing of material depicting criminal conduct, and the rise of AI-generated “deepfakes”.
‘Posting and Boasting’: Criminalising Harmful Content
The Summary Offences (Prohibition of Publication of Certain Material) Amendment Bill 2025 makes it illegal to share or publish material showing criminal conduct if the intention is to glorify or promote the behaviour. This is sometimes called ‘posting and boasting’. The new law targets individuals who seek to celebrate or incite criminal acts through online platforms. Sharing such content can now lead to criminal charges.
Deepfakes: Protecting Personal Dignity
Artificial intelligence technology has enabled the creation of ‘deepfakes’ – humiliating, degrading, or invasive depictions of a person, often intended to harm reputations or cause distress. The Summary Offences (Humiliating, Degrading, and Invasive Depictions) Amendment Act 2025 is specifically designed to prevent the creation, distribution, or threat to distribute such deepfake content. This law is in place to protect the dignity of all individuals in our digital age.
Penalties for Breaching these Laws
Both new offences carry significant penalties to deter such behaviour. Individuals found guilty can face fines up to $20,000 or up to 4 years imprisonment. These strong measures reflect the importance of responsible online behaviour and the protection of personal safety and dignity.
We encourage students and families to be aware of these laws and to report any concerning online behaviour to appropriate authorities. Together, we can help create a safer and more respectful online environment for everyone.
