The enactment of the Albanese government's Misinformation and Disinformation (MAD) bill, which has the "full support" of the opposition, certainly doesn't bode well for free speech in Australia.
Going by Communication Minister Michelle Rowland's own words, the minister responsible for tabling the legislation to parliament, the laws could very well be used to stifle dissent against the government of the day, even if that in no way promotes violence or aggression against an individual or entity or causes any harm of any nature to anyone or anything.
It's the sweeping, generalising wording of the MAD bill which is scary. There are some "legitimate aspects" to it. Because yes, no private citizen has a social licence to use social media to rant abuse and broadcast blatant lies and misrepresentations aimed at political and public figures, or anyone for that matter.
But as much as online abuse, harassment and intimidation on all the major social media platforms needs to be purged, it's a precursor to fascism when free speech which is simply robust, controversial, provocative and anti government and establishment is trampled upon under the false classification of "hate speech" or "harmful speech".
That's exactly how the Albanese government's Ministry of Truth and e-safety commissioner, will be legally empowered to interpret any free speech which has the potential to cause or promote merely what you would regard as "political unrest" against the government of the day.
Sorry to say, but if it comes to that, fascism will have arrived in Australia. The only acceptable outcome is if the MAD bill is significantly amended to specifically target online abuse and genuine "criminal behaviour" on social media sites and to retract its assault on free speech which doesn't cross any forbidden lines.
No comments:
Post a Comment