On September 12, Australia’s Department of Communications announced its intention to introduce a bill in Parliament that would fine social media platforms for not doing enough to stop the spread of so-called “misinformation.”
The first version of the bill was widely criticized for giving the regulator too much power to interpret what constitutes misinformation.
However, critics warn the bill would enable the government to crack down on free speech with little accountability.
📹 A demonstration is taking place in Australia’s Sydney against the Misinformation and Disinformation Bill proposed by the Labor Party led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
In Sydney, Australia, a protest against the Misinformation and Disinformation Bill by the Labor Party is gaining momentum. The bill, if passed, would allow the government to penalize digital platforms for failing to censor information deemed as false. Critics fear that this bill could suppress freedom of speech without proper oversight.
During the protest, Member of Parliament John Ruddick symbolically burned a copy of the bill. The initial draft of the bill faced backlash for giving excessive power to regulators in determining what constitutes misinformation. This demonstration serves as a strong statement against potential threats to free expression in the digital age.