Yesterday the Department of Internal Affairs released a consultation document on proposed changes to our censorship regime. This is a review of New Zealand’s regulatory system for media and online platforms. It proposes a major shift in how media and online platforms allow you to express yourself openly.
In essence, this is what you need to know:
– The Department of Internal Affairs is going to release a consultation document which proposes to have a law drafted which would establish a new ‘Regulator’ for online content;
– This Regulator would have broad powers, far more significant than any that exist at the moment over the content you put up on social media or other platforms. (Even the Free Speech Union’s updates and emails would be subject to the Regulator’s reach, as our ‘platform’ is larger than 25,000 users- we don’t think they should have a say on what our defence of free speech looks like).
– Codes would be drafted, which would outline what content, material and speech are allowed. But Parliament won’t draft the Codes. In fact, there is no representative accountability over what is included in the Codes at all.
– The draft law would just establish the Regulator, with the broad responsibilities of the Codes. Away from Parliament, the Select Committee process, and from your right to engage with politicians or vote out those you disagree with, industry, NGOs, and academics will write the codes which dictates what you’re allowed to say online.
– They advise that the penalty for platforms that do not comply with takedown notices should be increased to ‘reflect the seriousness of non-compliance’. Currently, it’s $200,000 for each incident of non-compliance.
– This is all part of the attempts by the Government to control information and the narrative. In their definitions of safety and harm, the DIA claim that ‘Content can cause harm to wider society. This might look like individuals or communities losing trust in, or access to, key public institutions such as the legal, health and education systems, [and] freedoms of identity…’
– We have till July 31 to submit on this consultation. They expect legislation to be introduced to Parliament next year.
Free Speech Union
Read more here. Discuss it on The BFD.