Posted on 06/27/2023 5:01:28 AM PDT by fluorescence
Online platforms spreading misinformation could face millions of dollars in penalties under new proposed government legislation that bolsters the power of Australia's media watchdog.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) would be armed with the ability to require digital platforms to keep certain records about matters regarding misinformation and disinformation and turn them over when requested.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said this would "essentially mean that the regulator is able to look under the hood of what the platforms are doing and what measures they are taking to ensure compliance".
The ACMA would also be able to request the industry to develop a "code of practice" covering measures to combat misinformation.
Violating the code could result in penalties up to $2.75 million dollars or 2 per cent of global turnover — whichever is greater.
And lastly, the ACMA would be empowered to create and enforce its own industry standard.
Penalties for breaching the standards could see companies paying up to $6.8 million or 5 per cent of their global turnover.
Shadow Minister for Communications David Coleman raised some concerns about the new proposed law, noting "this is a complex area of policy and government overreach must be avoided".
"[The] public will want to know exactly who decides whether a particular piece of content is misinformation or disinformation," he said.
According to the draft bill, misinformation is defined as unintentionally false, misleading or deceptive content.
It also defines disinformation as misinformation intentionally disseminated to cause serious harm.
Ms Rowland said "the government has no intention of stifling freedom of speech in this area" but instead aims to "keep Australians safe".
Social media platforms, news-aggregators and even podcasts would all be subject to the regulator's new powers.
The ACMA has already been in consultation with social media giants during the bill's drafting.
Ms Rowland warned "social media platforms are on notice that they have an important role in this area".
She also stressed the regulator would not have the power to remove individual pieces of content and made clear the new powers would not apply to professional news content.
Public consultations commenced today and will close on August 6.
The Communications Legislation Amendment (Combating Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023 is now in the public consultation stage.
I see Australia is going full penal colony again.
That is a good quote for our times. Here is another:
Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet.
Daniel 7:19
It’s gonna be hilarious when the Chinese overrun that miserable place.
Because they have no First Amendment.
Hatred against a group in Australian society on the basis of ethnicity, ... or mental disability
= = =
How about hatred against a group that has mental ability?
That is what they are doing to us.
And any “we the people” with dissenting views, which are shared online, will be the target.
Will Scary Poppins and all her motley crew never fly off on their umbrellas and get sucked into a jet fuselage, never to be heard from again?
...thus giving fact chuckers a real boost of authority.
So who gets to decide what is true?
So, when it is demonstrated that the program was wrong on the decision as to what was disinformation will they not only refund the fines but pay a fine to all who were wrongly accused?
And when the government puts out disinformation will everyone who was affected by it, or otherwise subjected to it, be paid a fine?
Is it a hate crime to falsely accuse someone of having advocated, “Misinformation that caused people to ingest or inject bleach products to treat a viral infection”?
Sounds like one to me.
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