Australian PM promises increased punishments for social media trolling and online child abuse material

As part of Australia’s 2019 federal election campaign, Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised to crack down heavily on social media trolling and increase punishments for the exploitation of children online. Morrison promised to increase maximum penalties from three to five years for social media trolling or any offence under section 474.17 of the Criminal Code Act 1995. His party’s proposed agenda includes introduction of new aggravated offences for sexual intercourse or other sexual activity with children outside Australia, new offences covering the provision of electronic services to facilitate dealing with child abuse material and grooming third parties using the post or a carriage service to procure children for sexual activity.