The Albanese government is attempting to censor debate via its Digital Duty of Care Bill, which passed the lower house last week and would make the eSafety Commissioner the central regulator with significantly expanded powers to police what we say online.
The Bill is essentially a repackaged version of the government’s abandoned misinformation and disinformation bill. It contains broad definitions of “harm” and “misinformation” and gives the Minister for Communications and the eSafety Commissioner wide discretion.
For example, on pages 27-28 of the Bill’s Exposure Draft, clause 25C, sub-section (2), states that “the Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine material or conduct, or a combination of material and conduct, that the Minister is satisfied may cause serious harm”.
