The Australian eSafety Commissioners inception began with a focus on reporting offensive content in it’s Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015 and now it has become extreme legislated policy in the Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Material Bill 2019.
But we passed legislation…
The power-drunk Morrison Government thinks it can jail social media bosses with new harsh penalties for allowing or sharing violence online.
In a knee jerk reaction to a rare and abhorrent event the Australian Government rushed through legislation to combat violent online content with jail time and multi-million dollar fines. This was done without any consultation with digital industries.
Now “service providers, content service providers and hosting service providers” failing to “expeditiously” remove violent content accessible by Australians can be fined 10% of annual turnover, and individuals involved face 3 years prison.
It’s unclear how this is enforced
There is no mechanism to enable the Australian Government to fine and jail foreign entities and individuals. All they can do is order ISP to block websites and threaten them. It is totally unclear how this is expected to work and information cannot be found on this from Government or journalistic sources.
A few exceptions apply and will not be prosecuted if :
- the content is in the public interest and is made by a person working in a professional capacity as a journalist
- it’s accessibility relates to the development, performance, exhibition or distribution, in good faith, of an artistic work.
Government decides what is in citizen’s best interest?
Does this mean that the Government decides what journalists can report on visually? Whatever journalism is in the public interest is decided by Government? Does this mean artists will have to defend themselves in court about portrayal of violence?
Art and journalism are oppressed by this attack on civil liberties masquerading as counter-terrorism and keeping public order. sees this as a distraction to the real issue of the Christchurch Massacre: political leaders and commentators have promulgated islamaphobia which has incited anti-islamic-extremism in Australia.
What shapes the eSafety Commissioners actions?
Sure the esafety commissioner’s mission seems altruistic enough with professions of “promoting online safety” through facilitating removal of illegal content and cyberbullying, but how easily can Government leaders use esafety as a means to fulfil their own objectives of staying in power and helping their corporate mates get rich.
Morrison is known as the type of guy that will do anything to win, and his tirade of criminalising online behaviour does not stop at sharing violent content. Animal rights activists who use social media or websites to organise break-ins to farms are next on the list.
Is this the beginning of a facist state evolving the power to punish through data?
This is all on top of the existing meta data retention that brings up issues of confidentiality to researchers and journalists.
Whistle blowers and study participants aware of Government agencies trawling through the data will be less likely to come forward and less likely to give open and honest details.
With extreme legislation a government can manipulate the citizens to move away not only from unethical behaviours but from activism and free speech with strict punishment.
An extremist government
The government moves to kick out more foreign ‘criminals‘ and make cash payments over $10,000 illegal. There exists little compassion from a leader built on Christian values, with policies attacking refugees and welfare recipients. As always he seems like a nice guy, his demeanour is informed by marketing techniques of pentecostal megachurches.
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