MP Introduces Bill To Stop Social Media Giants From ‘Deplatforming’ Politicians
The politician has had various issues with the social media giants over the years.
George Christensen wants Australia's Parliament to pass a Bill which prevents social media giants from 'deplatforming' members of Parliament, candidates and political parties.
The proposed law also aims to protect 'Australian journalistic enterprises' from being censored or deplatformed.
The proposal would forbid social giants - such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, WeChat and TikTok - from removing any of these 'protected' people's accounts.
It would also seek to prevent any of the platforms from deleting posts or limiting who can see them.
The Bill classifies removing posts as well as deprioritising, shadowbanning, restricting, editing or adding an addendum to the post as 'censorship'.
The Social Media (Protecting Australians From Censorship) Bill did, however, clarify that it would not protect illegal or defamatory content.
Christensen is the Nationals member for the Queensland seat of Dawson, but introduced the Bill as a Private Member's Bill - which means he is not acting on behalf of his party.
The chamber was largely empty while Christensen was reading through the Bill.
The politician has had various issues with the social media giants over the years.
In 2018, he posted a photo of himself with a firearm to Facebook with the caption 'do you feel lucky, greenie punks?'.
It was investigated by the Australian Federal Police, and Christensen ended up removing the post.
Last year, Facebook also removed a video of Christensen's anti-lockdown speech in Federal Parliament, claiming it contained 'harmful health information' which was in breach of its Covid-19 misinformation policy.
In the House of Representatives this morning, Christensen said these companies have significant control over political discourse in Australia and have the potential to threaten free speech.
"These platforms now form the public square. They form the place where ideas are debated, where discussion ensues. We now have big tech companies controlling that space," he said.
"Foreign social media companies are interfering in the political discourse in this country," he added.
He cited Facebook and Twitter's removal of former US President Donald Trump's profiles as further motivation for his proposal.
Leader of the United Australia Party, Craig Kelly, was also 'deplatformed' from Facebook for pushing unproven treatments for Covid-19 and repeatedly breaching its misinformation policies.
Kelly had previously been called 'one of Australia's most influential politicians on Facebook'.
Featured Image Credit: George Christensen/ FacebookTopics: News, Australia, George Christensen
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