Australia is set to introduce new legislation aimed at doxing and other forms of online harassment.

Doxing, which involves sharing an individual's private information online to encourage harassment, will soon be outlawed under the proposed laws. 

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is set to present the legislation to federal parliament this week.

Under the new law, those found guilty of doxing could face up to seven years in prison. 

A six-year maximum sentence applies to general cases of doxing, with the penalty rising to seven years if the offence targets someone based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, or other personal attributes. 

“Australians have a right to have their privacy respected, and when they are asked to hand over their personal data, they have a right to expect it will be protected,” Dreyfus said.

In addition to criminalising doxing, the reforms will introduce new protections for minors, including a children's privacy code designed to shield them from online harms. 

The reforms are part of a broader effort to modernise Australia's Privacy Act, which has remained largely unchanged since its introduction in 1988.

The changes will also grant Australians the right to sue for damages in cases of serious privacy breaches. 

However, some key provisions, such as the removal of exemptions for small businesses with turnovers below $3 million and the introduction of a “right to forget” clause, have not been included in the current draft.

The federal government will also introduce a hate speech bill, although the legislation is expected to be less robust than originally anticipated. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed support for stronger measures to protect Australians from vilification. 

However, debates surrounding religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws have complicated negotiations, particularly between the Labor government and the Opposition. 

The revised hate speech laws are not expected to include severe penalties for vilification, a shift from initial plans to address discrimination more forcefully.

State and territory laws already cover vilification, but this federal legislation marks a significant move towards centralising the regulation of online hate and harassment. 

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