Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has hit back at critics of the Albanese government’s latest proposal to target online misinformation.
'Read the bill': Communications Minister Michelle Rowland hits back at critics of bill targeting social media misinformation
But the revised proposal has already come under intense criticism, with shadow communications minister David Coleman eviscerating the legislation in comments that all but confirmed the opposition would oppose the bill. “In this bill, if you're an academic, something you say basically can't be misinformation. But if you're an ordinary Australian who disagrees with an academic, it can be misinformation," Mr Coleman said last Sunday.
“When it comes to mis and disinformation, it needs to be something that is verifiably false and capable of causing harm,” Ms Rowland said, claiming this was a “high threshold” and the categories of harm had also been defined in the bill - giving the examples of harm to personal health or safety and harm to critical infrastructure.
“This is a matter that goes to the conduct of the platforms and their systems and processes,” Minister Rowland said.
Misinformation Disinformation Rowland Hate Speech Censorship Social Media Free Speech
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