The Australian Internet Observatory (AIO) is a new research facility led by RMIT University and supported by the Australian government.

The AIO aims to investigate misinformation, consumer targeting, and political messages on digital platforms.

This four-year project is developed in partnership with six Australian universities.

The AIO will provide researchers with analytical tools to study trends across social networks, search engines, and messaging platforms.

Amidst concerns about social media influence, the government is investing in age-assurance technologies.

The opposition is considering a ban on children under 16 using social platforms.

The project lead, RMIT Distinguished Professor Julian Thomas, emphasizes the importance of transparency in digital platform operations and consumer data handling.

The AIO will focus on establishing ethical and legal frameworks for data collection.

The observatory will also study social media trends and include a program for individuals to donate their data for analysis.

The overall aim of the Australian Internet Observatory is to enhance research capabilities in the digital landscape and improve the observability and analyzability of digital platform data for researchers in Australia and globally.