30 years ago, the US created “section 230”, which was used to indemnify platforms from what was written on those platforms. Attach that to an algorithm which promotes certain things while suppressing others, and now American companies can publish by proxy. They don’t need to write vile stuff, just promote it to create danger for people who don’t agree with them.

Australia does not have this rule but instead of using that fact to fight against rampant misinformation on platforms like Facebook, Labor have created a framework to ostensibly “protect children”, but actually to create a real name policy on web platforms. The reason is because fighting a Google is much harder than fighting some guy who posted something in support of Palestine.

This creates fertile ground to construct the case violent action against politicians, almost always on the left*. Labor need to understand that this is not a “bipartisan” thing, or “simply good regulation” or whatever. ONP goons will happily kill people (or allow people to be killed) in the ALP (among others). You can see this in the horrifying rhetoric making light of Jacqui Lambie’s injuries. While the Libs might not, the Nats absolutely will stand by and watch someone murder left wing politicians at the behest of far right US platforms.

It’s time to hold these platforms to account through truth in advertising laws which are extremely popular, not to mention as publishers of illegal material (which Facebook for example is absolutely doing).

*Note: This isn’t about who commits the action, but about who the action is against.