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Australia’s highest court has ruled against some major news media companies in a case over comments on their social media pages. The court ruled that the companies are legally responsible for the comments because they are the editors of their pages.
This decision is an important victory for Dylan Voller. He calls for legal action against media companies. In his youth, Voller was placed in a detention center in the Northern Territory of Australia. His treatment while there was the focus of a 2016 documentary film. The film led to further investigation into the mistreatment of young prisoners in Australia.
Several news outlets posted photos of Voller on social media when the film was released. One showed him tied to a chair with a blanket over his head. Many Facebook users have posted comments on Voller on these companies’ social media pages.
As a result, Voller wants to sue several Australian media companies.
The case was delayed by a separate legal dispute over whether the companies were the editors of user comments.
The High Court ruled that media groups allowed and encouraged comments from Facebook users by setting up a public Facebook page and posting content.
The judges said it didn’t matter if the companies removed the comments later.
A spokesperson for Australia’s Nine Network, one of the companies involved, said: “We are obviously disappointed with the result because it will have ramifications for what we can post on social media in the future.
Peter O’Brien is Voller’s lawyer. He told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Voller is relieved that the long legal fight is over.
“People who could be vulnerable mob attacks on social networks – they are protected, â€he said.
The High Court ruling now allows Voller to continue his legal action against The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and others.
The case would later continue in the Supreme Court of the State of New South Wales. A lawsuit there will decide whether the Facebook comments really slandered Voller.
I am Jonathan Evans.
Phil Mercer reported on this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learn English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
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Words in this story
obviously – adv. in a way that is easy to see, understand or recognize
disappointed – adj. feeling sad, miserable, or unhappy because something wasn’t as good as expected or because something you were hoping for or expecting didn’t happen
page – nm information found at a single World Wide Web address
ramifications – nm something that is the result of an action, a decision, etc.
vulnerable – adj. easily injured or injured physically, mentally or emotionally
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