Facebook and Twitter trolls could be made more accountable for their online activity if Australian Independent Senator Nick Xenophon’s legislation efforts are successful.

The South Australian upper house MP is preparing draft legislation aimed at protecting social media users from anonymous abuse by “keyboard cowards”.

“It’s about time Twitter and Facebook stopped letting these cowards and bullies hide behind their online personals with impunity,” Senator Xenophon said in a statement on Monday.

Twitter and Facebook should protect users against threats, harassment and defamation, he added.

“Right now our agencies seem powerless to deal with the torrent of abuse that’s flowing across social media,” the senator said.

Senator Xenophon plans to introduce legislation to provide such protections to social media users.

He’s also written to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Foreign Minister Bob Carr, saying the US government should ensure global internet giants co-operate with Australia law.

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