The Australian Government is considering a crackdown on online racism, including the possibility of extending the proposed internet filter
to block anything moderately deemed as racist content.
Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland has requested that the Australian Human Rights Commission undertake a “sweeping review of arrangements for dealing with racist material on the internet”.
According to Fairfax Media, options on the table include “providing the Human Rights Commission with the power to order internet service providers to remove racist content.”
‘While freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental rights, this is not at the expense of the rights of people, while using the internet, to be treated with equality, dignity and respect,” McClelland said.
The problem with the proposal is that inciting racial hatred is currently a criminal offense in Australia, and Australia already has tough anti-racism laws. Any extension of the current laws, particularly into the realms of internet censorship, can only come at a serious danger to free speech. While there should be a reasonable balance, new laws would slew the balance beyond what most would believe is reasonable.
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