If the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combating Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 gets up, it will be an offence to criticise banking institutions. Some of the other things we won't be able to mention are: digital ID, Covid lockdowns and vaccines; nor will be able to criticise LGBTQ+ activism. And whatever Big Brother decides, presumably.

The government will have the power to “shut down free speech and alternative positions” over a large range of topics.

Actions against free speech will be funded by us, the victims of the Bill. We, ordinary people, will probably not be attacked personally, digital media platforms will be, if they allow us to speak, write, post as we do now.

And, as Minny Jackson (‘New censorship and surveillance beast is tabled in Parliament’, Spectator) writes, the material that can be reported (by any activist and offendee presumably) is “insanely broad”, including text, music and “other sounds”, visual images and “other forms of data”.

Given governments’ own iffy reputation with the truth, to allow them to dictate what is true and what is not would be “laughably insane”. But that's what they want.

The Morrison government came up with the idea of censoring speech before they were ousted. Now in opposition, they say they won't vote for this Bill. Maybe. I don't trust them. They are all for the government taking away the rights of parents to decide what their kids can watch or not watch, if they have smartphones or not. But even if they don't support this Bill, there are the Greens who will support anything to keep Australians down, and a few other odd bods in the Senate.

Elon Musk called the Albanese government “fascist “ over this Bill. The Opposition spokesman David Coleman was too prissy to agree, coming up with alternative ‘nicer’ weasel words.

I also watched John O'Sullivan last night talking about European main parties colluding and keeping their jobs with no opposition apart from a few small, itsy-bitsy parties and independents. I think the same thing will happen here.

The heading was Censoring Us To Keep Us Safe. Gremlins!

Everyone likes to be 'safe', but most people can keep themselves, and their children, safe. They don't need the Total State to do it and, thereby, assume even more control over them than is already the case.

We need to remember, also, that this fascist/Communist Bill would not apply to politicians and the mainstream media: the real misinforming, disinforming and lying characters and organisations by far.

I have to say that I had a good feeling when I saw Albanese responding to Elon Musk's criticism with almost the same words he used when Musk slammed the Voice.

He lost the Voice; he should lose on this nasty piece totalitarianism too.

In January the federal government proposed legislation
that sought to curb the online spread of false and
misleading information.

Since then a range of experts and groups have accused the
draft bill of being vaguely worded and encouraging
censorship.

Despite its faults the bill is well intentioned.

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland says:

"Misinformation and disinformation sows division within the
community, undermines trust and can threaten public health
and safety."

The bill is yet to be debated in parliament, which means
there is still time for amendments to be made. In
particular the imprecision of key terminology - which is
ripe for amendment.

It's a bit too early to condemn things outright.

Foxy

Regurgitating a second hand press release adds nothing. I would have some respect for you if you expressed your own opinions, rather than just parroting what the MSM, the ABC, The Guardian, and your favourite politicians say.

Sounds like a win for democracy, I'm so excited.

The bill is analogous to banning shopping on the basis that some people shoplift. People legitimately buy all manner of things for all manner of reasons. Having a right to express an opinion would seem as fundamental as democracy itself. If you want to buy dried peas you should have a right to do so.