ESafety (Age Verification) - Decimation of Privacy and Silencing of Dissent on The Protagonists.

ESafety (Age Verification) - Decimation of Privacy and Silencing of Dissent.

A barrage of new requirements are being imposed on all Australians using social media and the internet. Governments in New Zealand, The UK and the EU have expressed their intentions to follow Australia's lead in the Under 16 Ban and roll out other verification measures for a range of other uses including VPNs.

We are told that these measures are necessary to protect the children. This is patently not so as Governments have long expressed their unhappiness with alternative or dissenting information available on the internet, engaging in heavy censorship during Covid19. The social media companies then as now, are falling into line under threat of fines to become defacto sensors for their Governments and any groups with which they are aligned.

Anonymity is no longer possible for internet and social media users. Legal online activities or posts of individuals can be used by authorities and third parties for monitoring, tracking or commercial gain. Perhaps this is not of concern to most, until they are denied a visa, or other essential services against arbitrary or discriminatory criteria.

We have seen this movie before. During Covid, Government overreach attracted little criticism from the defenders of democratic principles and civil liberties and from mainstream media. Mainstream media will of course benefit from the demise of citizen journalism and alternative news outlets - many of which were the source of truthful information during the pandemic.

Mike Ryan HOST

GUESTS:

Tony Nikolic, General Manager at AFL Solicitors, is an experienced lawyer and Criminologist. Committed to social justice, he offers pro bono legal work and champions civil and human rights, Tony has expertise in whistleblower protections.

Gigi Foster is a US-born academic and economist. She is currently a professor of economics at the University of New South Wales. Gigi has been vocal about her views on government policies related to COVID-19. She is a founder of Australians for Science and Freedom an organisation aimed at promoting intellectual and personal freedom in public debate and public policy, including the analysis of scientific questions, and the transparency, contestability and accountability of public decision-making.

Kelvyn Alp is the leader of New Zealand Loyal and the founder of Pariah Media and Industry Insight, and co-founder of Counterspin Media.

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