Doctors may have no recourse if they are the subject of defamatory and abusive posts online under proposed federal social media laws, legal experts warn.

The Social Media (Anti-Trolling) Bill is being touted by Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a means to “unmask online trolls” and address toxic content on social media.

But if passed, the legislation may disadvantage victims, including doctors, with no mention of ‘troll’ or ‘trolling’ beyond the Bill’s title, say special counsel Nathan Buck and senior associate Jeremy Marel.

It comes amid growing concern about online abuse directed at doctors, with Facebook apologising 12 months ago for not doing more to remove defamatory posts accusing a GP and his Federal MP wife of running a child abuse ring.