Misinformation research is a joke, but not in the haha way. Today, I submitted my feedback to the Australian Government on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023. If passed, the bill will considerably expand the regulatory powers of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over digital platforms, essentially forcing platforms to comply with codes and standards devised by ACMA to counter misinformation and disinformation (currently, adherence to the
I'm not being reductive. This whole bill is so obviously just a process to 'enable tyranny'. The most dim of beautiful minds can see this. Any lawyer worth a pinch of 💩 can see this. Why is this even allowed to be tabled? Debate? On this rubbish? Come on, we are literally talking ourselves to death.. The era of 'this isn't right/fair/just has long gone. We need to be discussing how this gets stopped. I am in no way taking away from your efforts, writing or talent Rebecca, I am a huge fan of your work. I'm just getting frustrated that we know 'protesting our disgust' is not changing anything. We can sum up, 'this is bullshit', BUT WHAT NOW!!
Was"two weeks to flatten the curve" misinformation, or, disinformation? Either way, who was it that muttered these words? If memory serves me well, it certainly wasn't any 'conspiracy theorists', or 'anti-vaxxers'. Are the PM, Premiers, senior bureaucrats and talking heads of the MSM to be sanctioned for this blatantly obvious deception - one of the first of way too many? Aren't these the same institutions and people this legislation seeks to exalt, whilst ensuring the sanctioned censorship of all those that questioned this, among many, blatantly false statements. You know who I mean, the people who were right, those this legislation intends to label mis/dis information spreaders.
Brilliant submission Rebekah... I put one in as well, for what it's worth... I feel this government will steamroll through this bill, but I refuse to believe it's validity... How can any law exclude certain individuals or organisations... Eg mainstream media or the government... Any LAW must apply equally with no exclusion. It can't be a case of "rules for thee but not for me" ...
Rebekah - Great analysis as always! What worries me is that the push for massive censorship of any criticism of elite establishments is almost identical in many countries -- which suggests an internationally coordinated campaign. This isn’t just the Australian government being stupid. They know exactly what they’re doing and it’s part of a much larger effort to cement control of globalist powers. How’s that for some great conspiracy fueled misinformation?
Aug 20, 2023·edited Aug 20, 2023Liked by Rebekah Barnett
Also, on listed "harms", top of the list, it is considered a harm [to provoke? to express?] "hatred against a group in Australian society on the basis of ethnicity, nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or physical or mental disability;"
The thing is, I'm on substack, and not on twitter, because I was required to delete a tweet designated as a "hate" tweet. It was an exceptionally boring tweet in a conversation about being bitten by mosquitos. I kid you not. If I delete that tweet I will be allowed back on twitter. However I will have a strike against my name for posting a 'hate' tweet. They only need to do the same thing one or two more times and I'm deleted forever for hate. The tweet is here, if anyone wants the context and responses: https://madeleinelove.substack.com/p/can-anyone-explain-at-a-loss
I'm speechless. Your research, writing, editing, logic, evidence, patience, perseverance... absolutely astounding. Australia clearly also has some of the most intelligent people around among the mass of f-wits and this in itself offers great hope. Not only are you intellectually intelligent, but emotionally intelligent. I think both sides of your brain are extremely well developed and we're so grateful for you Rebekah Barnett! How I wish I was in a position to throw a million dollars your way, I hope you attain top positions of authority in a new Australia of the future which you and many others deserve. 🙏
Very well written and detailed Rebekah, thankyou for putting in the time.
We live in crazy dangerous times. It seems like sheer madness that this bill has been put up at all in its current state. And yet so little is being said about it in the MS which probably shouldn’t surprise me, but I don’t like the tendency to write anything off wholesale because that kind of looseness with complexity plays into their hands. There were a few articles in the Australian but it’s impossible to know what effect they had, and very little follow up as well which seems to indicate a lack of interest or recognition of significance.
There was a hot mic moment recently where journos were talking about the journalist who wrote the Covid science front page article in the Oz. I couldn’t believe their ignorance. It really seems the case that many just can’t see the wood for the trees, they’re living their careers for what they’re worth and exhibit a complete lack of curiosity, which shows a dull confidence in the mainstream narrative.
Incredible write-up, Rebekah, detailed, thorough, accurate. The problem however is the phrase “The government is always right, and everything else is misinformation” that you highlighted - you may as well substitute “government” with “experts” or “fact-checkers” or “corporate profiteers” or even “the globalist elite cartel crafting our digital green tyrannical utopia” … it doesn’t really matter.
Without a genuine, wide scale mindset shift by the bulk of the population, including a majority of those working in these agencies, bureaucracies etc who simply “do their job” but do so under the belief that they are better, smarter, more worthy and therefore important enough to be part of “the decision makers” who craft the narratives, this cannot and will not change. The ACMA report from June 21 to me, more than almost any other bullshit document I’ve read during the past 2 years, is evidence that this cannot be slowed, nor stopped. It will continue until such time as either things “break” or the shutters on liberty are pulled down … the flattered ideologues and the manipulative deceivers working in these agencies concocting reports, surveys and studies either need to be physically removed, or experience a genuine come-to-Jesus moment if we’re to have a chance.
I think this bullshit law will go through. Your points are impeccable, Rebekah. That is why they want you silenced. They need this law in place for the next "crisis" or "state of emergency". I think it will be some sort of global finacial collapse and UBI and CBDCs will be the saviour and anyone who points out the loss of freedom and risk of tyranny will be shut down for "misinformation" or even called potential domestic terrorists.
It was a bipartisan contention that Iraq in 2003 still possessed illegal weapons of mass destruction. A document was fabricated purporting in the US to show that Saddam had attempted to aquire uranium from West Africa. Even the Opposition Leader at the time said that the evidence of this was "incontrovertible." Questioning this bullshit, which was obvious from the get go to anyone with half a brain was bullshit, would have been prohibited under the proposed ACMA censorship and propaganda regime. Questioning the science, or lack of it, behind the former White Australia Policy would have been prohibited. Questioning the science and wisdom behind the proposal to introduce a cane toad into Queensland to control the cane beetle would have been prohibited. Questioning the science behind the bullshit findings of the former NSW District Court ChiefJudge reginald blanch that there was no reasonable doubt that Kathleen Folbigg murdered her children would have been difficult. Overturning the bullshit conviction of Lindy Chamberlain would have been difficult. It needs to be remembered that the greatest harm to the public is caused by governments through democide. Democide is the biggest cause of non-natural death apart from war, which is also caused by governnent. What is being proposed for ACMA is worse than the censorship in Nazi Germany. This is chilling repression.
The comparison and contrast with vaccine injury reporting is a good point well made. Unfortunately, these authoritarian types have no problems with being hypocritical or inconsistent or contrary.
This:"The report references “increasing concern” about a perceived increase in “misinformation” online, measured by survey respondents reporting how much misinformation they believe they have seen."
Is exactly what has happened in New Zealand.
Prior to Covid there was some noise about 'fake news' but during Covid it ramped up to asking people specifically about mid/disinfo in surveys for NGOs and government agencies, all the while filling the mainstream media with the dangers of mis/disinfo.
In late 2022 our key govt agency in charge of this, released a survey that asked 1,001 people what are the biggest threats and somehow mis/disinfo - with no definition or examples - became the 2nd biggest threat behind a natural disaster! They've used this here as justification for a raft of policies to tackle mid/disinfo, exactly as in this post.
It's insane as they create the problem, then try to offer the solution - yet offer no defined outcome or even definition of either!
Albo will be collecting and burning your books soon. One would think Mark Dreyfus would understand. I met him once in a pub in Berwick. Life is full of little disappointments.
The funniest part of the Exposure Draft was harms that could be forced by mis/disinformation. One harm was
"Harm to the integrity of [...] government institutions"
It isn't possible to 'harm' the integrity of a govt institution.
It either has integrity, or it doesn't.
It is only possible to shed light on failures in integrity.
Having published on many failures of integrity in various Australian health regulators I have to wonder what the legislation is intending to stop.
Here's the Exposure Draft, if anyone wants to make a last minute submission (due 23:59 tonight) https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/communications-legislation-amendment-combatting-misinformation-and-disinformation-bill2023-june2023.pdf
I'm not being reductive. This whole bill is so obviously just a process to 'enable tyranny'. The most dim of beautiful minds can see this. Any lawyer worth a pinch of 💩 can see this. Why is this even allowed to be tabled? Debate? On this rubbish? Come on, we are literally talking ourselves to death.. The era of 'this isn't right/fair/just has long gone. We need to be discussing how this gets stopped. I am in no way taking away from your efforts, writing or talent Rebecca, I am a huge fan of your work. I'm just getting frustrated that we know 'protesting our disgust' is not changing anything. We can sum up, 'this is bullshit', BUT WHAT NOW!!
Was"two weeks to flatten the curve" misinformation, or, disinformation? Either way, who was it that muttered these words? If memory serves me well, it certainly wasn't any 'conspiracy theorists', or 'anti-vaxxers'. Are the PM, Premiers, senior bureaucrats and talking heads of the MSM to be sanctioned for this blatantly obvious deception - one of the first of way too many? Aren't these the same institutions and people this legislation seeks to exalt, whilst ensuring the sanctioned censorship of all those that questioned this, among many, blatantly false statements. You know who I mean, the people who were right, those this legislation intends to label mis/dis information spreaders.
A complete and utter farce.
Brilliant submission Rebekah... I put one in as well, for what it's worth... I feel this government will steamroll through this bill, but I refuse to believe it's validity... How can any law exclude certain individuals or organisations... Eg mainstream media or the government... Any LAW must apply equally with no exclusion. It can't be a case of "rules for thee but not for me" ...
Rebekah - Great analysis as always! What worries me is that the push for massive censorship of any criticism of elite establishments is almost identical in many countries -- which suggests an internationally coordinated campaign. This isn’t just the Australian government being stupid. They know exactly what they’re doing and it’s part of a much larger effort to cement control of globalist powers. How’s that for some great conspiracy fueled misinformation?
Also, on listed "harms", top of the list, it is considered a harm [to provoke? to express?] "hatred against a group in Australian society on the basis of ethnicity, nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or physical or mental disability;"
The thing is, I'm on substack, and not on twitter, because I was required to delete a tweet designated as a "hate" tweet. It was an exceptionally boring tweet in a conversation about being bitten by mosquitos. I kid you not. If I delete that tweet I will be allowed back on twitter. However I will have a strike against my name for posting a 'hate' tweet. They only need to do the same thing one or two more times and I'm deleted forever for hate. The tweet is here, if anyone wants the context and responses: https://madeleinelove.substack.com/p/can-anyone-explain-at-a-loss
I'm speechless. Your research, writing, editing, logic, evidence, patience, perseverance... absolutely astounding. Australia clearly also has some of the most intelligent people around among the mass of f-wits and this in itself offers great hope. Not only are you intellectually intelligent, but emotionally intelligent. I think both sides of your brain are extremely well developed and we're so grateful for you Rebekah Barnett! How I wish I was in a position to throw a million dollars your way, I hope you attain top positions of authority in a new Australia of the future which you and many others deserve. 🙏
Very well written and detailed Rebekah, thankyou for putting in the time.
We live in crazy dangerous times. It seems like sheer madness that this bill has been put up at all in its current state. And yet so little is being said about it in the MS which probably shouldn’t surprise me, but I don’t like the tendency to write anything off wholesale because that kind of looseness with complexity plays into their hands. There were a few articles in the Australian but it’s impossible to know what effect they had, and very little follow up as well which seems to indicate a lack of interest or recognition of significance.
There was a hot mic moment recently where journos were talking about the journalist who wrote the Covid science front page article in the Oz. I couldn’t believe their ignorance. It really seems the case that many just can’t see the wood for the trees, they’re living their careers for what they’re worth and exhibit a complete lack of curiosity, which shows a dull confidence in the mainstream narrative.
What will it take to wake these types up?
Incredible write-up, Rebekah, detailed, thorough, accurate. The problem however is the phrase “The government is always right, and everything else is misinformation” that you highlighted - you may as well substitute “government” with “experts” or “fact-checkers” or “corporate profiteers” or even “the globalist elite cartel crafting our digital green tyrannical utopia” … it doesn’t really matter.
Without a genuine, wide scale mindset shift by the bulk of the population, including a majority of those working in these agencies, bureaucracies etc who simply “do their job” but do so under the belief that they are better, smarter, more worthy and therefore important enough to be part of “the decision makers” who craft the narratives, this cannot and will not change. The ACMA report from June 21 to me, more than almost any other bullshit document I’ve read during the past 2 years, is evidence that this cannot be slowed, nor stopped. It will continue until such time as either things “break” or the shutters on liberty are pulled down … the flattered ideologues and the manipulative deceivers working in these agencies concocting reports, surveys and studies either need to be physically removed, or experience a genuine come-to-Jesus moment if we’re to have a chance.
Love your work Rebekah 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 thank you 🙏
I think this bullshit law will go through. Your points are impeccable, Rebekah. That is why they want you silenced. They need this law in place for the next "crisis" or "state of emergency". I think it will be some sort of global finacial collapse and UBI and CBDCs will be the saviour and anyone who points out the loss of freedom and risk of tyranny will be shut down for "misinformation" or even called potential domestic terrorists.
It was a bipartisan contention that Iraq in 2003 still possessed illegal weapons of mass destruction. A document was fabricated purporting in the US to show that Saddam had attempted to aquire uranium from West Africa. Even the Opposition Leader at the time said that the evidence of this was "incontrovertible." Questioning this bullshit, which was obvious from the get go to anyone with half a brain was bullshit, would have been prohibited under the proposed ACMA censorship and propaganda regime. Questioning the science, or lack of it, behind the former White Australia Policy would have been prohibited. Questioning the science and wisdom behind the proposal to introduce a cane toad into Queensland to control the cane beetle would have been prohibited. Questioning the science behind the bullshit findings of the former NSW District Court ChiefJudge reginald blanch that there was no reasonable doubt that Kathleen Folbigg murdered her children would have been difficult. Overturning the bullshit conviction of Lindy Chamberlain would have been difficult. It needs to be remembered that the greatest harm to the public is caused by governments through democide. Democide is the biggest cause of non-natural death apart from war, which is also caused by governnent. What is being proposed for ACMA is worse than the censorship in Nazi Germany. This is chilling repression.
The comparison and contrast with vaccine injury reporting is a good point well made. Unfortunately, these authoritarian types have no problems with being hypocritical or inconsistent or contrary.
This:"The report references “increasing concern” about a perceived increase in “misinformation” online, measured by survey respondents reporting how much misinformation they believe they have seen."
Is exactly what has happened in New Zealand.
Prior to Covid there was some noise about 'fake news' but during Covid it ramped up to asking people specifically about mid/disinfo in surveys for NGOs and government agencies, all the while filling the mainstream media with the dangers of mis/disinfo.
In late 2022 our key govt agency in charge of this, released a survey that asked 1,001 people what are the biggest threats and somehow mis/disinfo - with no definition or examples - became the 2nd biggest threat behind a natural disaster! They've used this here as justification for a raft of policies to tackle mid/disinfo, exactly as in this post.
It's insane as they create the problem, then try to offer the solution - yet offer no defined outcome or even definition of either!
Albo will be collecting and burning your books soon. One would think Mark Dreyfus would understand. I met him once in a pub in Berwick. Life is full of little disappointments.
Well done. Terrific submission.