In an ever-increasingly complex world of misinformation and sinister algorithms, it’s great to know that federal Labor have your interests at heart.
They introduced The Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 on September 12.
It’s also known as the MAD bill, which is perfect for 2024. Or 1984.
Oh yes, concerns have been raised.
The Law Council of Australia say the broad definitions of key terms like ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ are problematic, while The Australian Human Rights Commission also highlighted concerns around its vague definitions, low harm thresholds, and exclusions for government content.
And with more than 2,400 submissions, the government are under somewhat of an obligation to take this seriously.
It’s unfortunate that governments consistently throw unreasonable and under-cooked bills at the public.
It’s like when a developer proposes an excessively large DA, but whittles it back when there is stiff opposition. And when there isn’t a peep? Expectations are exceeded!
Presumably, social media platforms and publishers want to be factual.
The richest Space Karen on the planet, aka Elon Musk, owns Twitter/X, and sees himself as a free speech champion.
He doesn’t like the MAD bill, and called the Labor government ‘fascists’, while also ironically supporting Trump for President.
Space Kaz has been also been slagging off Brazil’s Supreme Court, over their demands on him to remove over 100 Twitter/X accounts that were challenging the legitimacy of the 2022 election results.
Space Kaz initially refused, closing X offices in Brazil. The Supreme Court then ordered the suspension of X in Brazil and froze local bank accounts of Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet business which is now blocking everyone’s view of the universe.
Then just last week, Musk bowed to one of the key demands made by Brazil’s Supreme Court by appointing a legal representative in the country. He also paid outstanding fines and took down user accounts that the court had ordered to be removed on the basis that they threatened the country’s democracy, The New York Times reported.
With uber wealthy individuals like Space Kaz openly bullying governments, it’s understandable that a sovereign nation would like to have a say on misinformation which can damage democracy.
The question is whether the balance will be struck to protect your rights, and whether governments actually care about your freedoms.
Hans Lovejoy, editor
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