The MAD Fight
The “MAD Bill” – Digital platforms and misinformation (23 min)
This video explains how the Australian Commonwealth Government's 'Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 is intended to operate and the potential problems with it. It explains the four things the bill does: (1) requiring transparency from digital platforms about their policies and procedures regarding misinformation; (2) requiring them to create records and provide information to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) about how they deal with misinformation; (3) requiring industry associations to create codes for digital platforms, which once ACMA approves of them, become compulsory; and (4) empowering ACMA to impose standards on the digital platforms if there is no code, or it becomes deficient, or there are exceptional and urgent circumstances. It then discusses the meaning of misinformation and disinformation, who decides what is false, misleading and deceptive, and what amounts to serious harm. It also notes the exceptions and the potential impact of the law upon the constitutionally implied freedom of political communication. For those who want to check what I say against the terms of the Bill and the Explanatory Memorandum, they can be found here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_....
Close to victory against MAD censorship bill—the Greens must also reject it
— Elijah (@CherithElijah) November 19, 2024