Australians will still be able to listen to manosphere podcasts and express beliefs such as the moon landing being fake under proposed new online safety laws, according to Communications Minister Anika Wells. She addressed concerns regarding potential government censorship during her speech at the National Press Club on Thursday.
Key Points
- Wells emphasized that the digital duty of care laws are not about controlling speech but ensuring platforms provide a safe online environment.
- The proposed laws would allow individuals to sue tech companies that violate the new regulations, a demand from the Greens party.
Wells stated, "This is not about what people say on the internet. It’s about what platforms do on the internet, and your right to disagree with me or the government or believe whatever you want to believe will not be impinged by a digital duty of care. Your right to be free from harm, hopefully, will be improved."
Digital Duty of Care Laws
The digital duty of care laws, introduced into parliament after extensive discussions, aim to enhance Australia’s online safety framework. These laws will impose an overarching obligation on tech platforms to protect users from harmful content, replacing existing codes and standards.
Wells highlighted that content deemed harmful could include:
- Misogynistic material
- Pro-terror content
- Suicide and self-harm content
- Eating disorder content
