Australian government’s ‘anti-troll’ legislation would allow social media users to sue bullies

Laws would require companies to reveal users' identities but experts say focus on defamation will not help curb rates of online bullying

• Katharine Murphy: Morrison caps off a wild week in parliament with a unifying bout of troll-busting
• Download the free Guardian app; get our morning email briefing

The Australian government is set to introduce some of the toughest anti-troll" legislation in the world, but experts say its focus on defamation will not help curb the rates of online bullying or cyberhate.

On Sunday prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced his government would introduce legislation to parliament this week that would make social media companies reveal the identities of anonymous trolling accounts and offer a pathway to sue those people for defamation.