Well, the federal parliament has passed legislation to ban people under 16 from having an account with some social media platforms. In doing so, it has ignored advice from a chorus of experts – and from the Australian Human Rights Commission, which said the government rushed the legislation through parliament without taking the time to get the details right. Or even knowing how the ban will work in practice.
Though passed, it was also appallingly mismanaged. The ban is very controversial, with many experts highly critical. That made it all the more necessary for the legislation to have proper parliamentary scrutiny. More than 15,000 submissions were received by the Senate committee that looked at the bill. The committee took just one morning’s evidence on Monday, and on Tuesday tabled its report.
Kudos for the Senators who stood up against the bill, down to the wire, as it passed the Senate.
While it remains unclear exactly which social media platforms will be subject to the ban, those that are will face fines of up to A$50 million if they don’t take “reasonable steps” to stop under 16s from having accounts.
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
The Under 16 Ban on Account access to Social Media has been steamrollered through the lower house, and will be guillotined through the Senate without debate.
Questions of substance are being thrown off the table in an unseemly mess, being supported by both major parties. Why? Because under the hood this is actually the last battle between old media and new media, and both major parties must support the hidden hand.
As a result the door is flung open for greater digital control, in line with top-down directives.
Parents, children and ordinary Australians are caught in the cross-fire.
Kudos to small band of Senators who have stood against the bill. This will not end well for major parties.
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
Earlier this week in my live show I discussed the current Misinformation and Disinformation Bill which is subject to Senate review. https://youtu.be/yIS1vJxvo6E which around 15,000 submissions.
This show is an edit of last Fridays Senate hearing, during which significant issues were exposed, including that of censorship, the fact the bill could be applied to individual creators, and other matters.
Bottom line is simply this bill must be defeated!
Full hearing here: https://youtu.be/1Ri3IgZW6Rk
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
Earlier this week in my live show I discussed the current Misinformation and Disinformation Bill which is subject to Senate review. https://youtu.be/yIS1vJxvo6E which around 15,000 submissions.
This show is an edit of last Fridays Senate hearing, during which significant issues were exposed, including that of censorship, the fact the bill could be applied to individual creators, and other matters.
Bottom line is simply this bill must be defeated!
Full hearing here: https://youtu.be/1Ri3IgZW6Rk
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
Well now we have next bit of the controlling infrastructure being put in place to control free speech, and perhaps even what we think! The Orwellian nightmare with severe consequences for freedom of expression is being rolled out for all to see.
I have already talked about the dystopian future being drip fed on society, with the removal of cash so financial transactions can be monitored, the introduction of a non-mandatory but effectively mandatory of a digital ID, and of course there is the move to restrict youngsters access to socials.
But now we have the next piece of the puzzle, as Today in Canberra, Minister Rowland tabled the Labour Government’s latest version of the “Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill”.
This bill defines ‘serious harm’ as: (a) harm to the operation or integrity of a Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government electoral or referendum process; or (b) harm to public health in Australia, including to the efficacy of preventative health measures in Australia; or (c) vilification of a group in Australian society distinguished by race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status, disability, nationality or national or ethnic origin, or vilification of an individual because of a belief that the individual is a member of such a group; or (d) intentionally inflicted physical injury to an individual in Australia; or (e) imminent: (i) damage to critical infrastructure; or (ii) disruption of emergency services; in Australia; or (f) imminent harm to the Australian economy, including harm to public confidence in the banking system or financial markets; that has: (g) significant and far-reaching consequences for the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community; or (h) severe consequences for an individual in Australia If the platforms do not silence the above content, they could be slapped with a range of penalties, including a maximum fine of 5 per cent of their global revenue. That’s a very big stick which will undoubtedly result in algorithms which silence a large amount of factual content.
Frankly, in the light of this, my ability to analyse and yes criticise Government Policy, Monetary Policy or even economic analysis more generally could be caught in the draconian umbrella. Even reporting on financial pressures on households could be caught. My voice would be silenced online and the government talking points would continue to spread unchallenged.
Then just add the Central Bank Digital Currency into the mix, the total control by Government is complete. This is anti-democratic nonsense and needs to be stopped. Before its too late, if its not already!
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
This past week, while we were distracted with the budget, our controlled digital future came one step nearer, as the Australian Federal Governments Digital ID Bill sailed through Parliament last week with the support of the crossbench, having been previously passed in the Senate.
The passing into law of this bill may at a superficial level sound sensible, given that as more Australians are increasingly transacting online, our identities are vulnerable in new ways. So the Digital ID is to provide “secure” access system for other services that we can have confidence and trust in; the Government says.
But as I discussed in my previous show from the 29th March, Digital Tyranny Is One Step Closer! https://youtu.be/kVVmG_7ddWg I am reminded of the parable of the frog, who slowly gets cooked to death, in a pot as the temperature rises – the same in true for Australians, as civil liberties such as the use of cash, are removed, even as the digital architecture for future control gets put in place. You can see parallels elsewhere round the world and aligned with the agenda of several high profile non-elected bodies like the World Economic Forum – of “you will own nothing and be happy” fame.
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) Blog
Digital Tyranny Another Step Closer As Digital ID Bill Is Passed!
This past week, while we were distracted with the budget, our controlled digital future came one step nearer, as the Australian Federal Governments Digital ID Bill sailed through Parliament last week with the support of the crossbench, having been previously passed in the Senate.
The passing into law of this bill may at a superficial level sound sensible, given that as more Australians are increasingly transacting online, our identities are vulnerable in new ways. So the Digital ID is to provide “secure” access system for other services that we can have confidence and trust in; the Government says.
But as I discussed in my previous show from the 29th March, Digital Tyranny Is One Step Closer! https://youtu.be/kVVmG_7ddWg I am reminded of the parable of the frog, who slowly gets cooked to death, in a pot as the temperature rises – the same in true for Australians, as civil liberties such as the use of cash, are removed, even as the digital architecture for future control gets put in place. You can see parallels elsewhere round the world and aligned with the agenda of several high profile non-elected bodies like the World Economic Forum – of “you will own nothing and be happy” fame.
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
Remember the parable of the frog, who slowly gets cooked to death, in a pot as the temperature rises – well, the same in true for Australians, as civil liberties such as the use of cash, are removed, even as the digital architecture for future control gets put in place. You can see parallels elsewhere round the world, and aligned with the agenda of several high profile non-elected bodies like the World Economic Forum – of “you will own nothing and be happy” fame.
Australia’s Digital ID Bill 2023 was initially introduced to the Senate on November 30, 2023, and has since undergone a Senate inquiry and brief consultation period before this week being pushed through the Senate without debate. Despite assurances of voluntariness and promises to simplify citizens’ lives, the Labor government has faced backlash for the lack of scrutiny given to the bill.
And there is of course the wider, story here potentially linking digital ID with Central Bank Digital Currency and Social Scores, perhaps enabling the idea peddled by the World Economic Forum and other non-elected global entities, that we the people can be better controlled in terms of what we can, say, or even purchase. So you value your privacy, liberty and the rule of law, the Digital ID Bill must be defeated, time to put pressure back on the house of representatives when the amended bill comes back.
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
Remember the parable of the frog, who slowly gets cooked to death, in a pot as the temperature rises – well, the same in true for Australians, as civil liberties such as the use of cash, are removed, even as the digital architecture for future control gets put in place. You can see parallels elsewhere round the world, and aligned with the agenda of several high profile non-elected bodies like the World Economic Forum – of “you will own nothing and be happy” fame.
Australia’s Digital ID Bill 2023 was initially introduced to the Senate on November 30, 2023, and has since undergone a Senate inquiry and brief consultation period before this week being pushed through the Senate without debate. Despite assurances of voluntariness and promises to simplify citizens’ lives, the Labor government has faced backlash for the lack of scrutiny given to the bill.
And there is of course the wider, story here potentially linking digital ID with Central Bank Digital Currency and Social Scores, perhaps enabling the idea peddled by the World Economic Forum and other non-elected global entities, that we the people can be better controlled in terms of what we can, say, or even purchase. So you value your privacy, liberty and the rule of law, the Digital ID Bill must be defeated, time to put pressure back on the house of representatives when the amended bill comes back.
http://www.martinnorth.com/
Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/
We need to think ahead as to how Digital Identity, Central Bank Digital Currency and Programmable Money will interact, and ask the all-important question are we comfortable with these developments. Who is in control, and to what extent will we really be able to opt out?
CONTENTS
0:00 Start 00:15 Introduction 01:05 Should A CBDC Be Programmable? 03:55 We Already Have Directed Spending 05:09 BasicsCard and Cashless Debit Card 08:22 Tracking Transactions and Directing Payments 09:00 Digital Euro 09:45 Digital US Dollar 10:45 The Bitcoin Proxy 11:10 China CBDC Pilot and Social Score 19:10 Current Digital Identity Consultation 21:58 Current Issues 22:45 27th October Deadline 23:00 Summary and Conclusions
As I reported earlier in the week a Senate inquiry has recommended that Treasury should lead a policy review of the viability of a retail central bank digital currency in Australia. This is something the Reserve Bank of Australia has been reluctant to entertain given it could increase the likelihood of a run on commercial bank deposits in a crisis. In fact, the RBA has been focussing on Commercial orientated CBDC pilots. But the Senate committee has asked Treasury to study the case for creating a retail ‘central bank digital currency’ to compete with private currencies being created by tech companies.
But what are we really getting into here? Well, back in June The Bank of England called on ministers to decide whether a central bank digital currency should be “programmable”, ultimately giving the issuer control over how it is spent by the recipient.
I suspect many will be totally unaware of Australian Digital Identity Programme and the current inquiry which is running. You have until 27th October to make a submission.
But my point is, say the Government gave you an account at the Reserve Bank, for digital currency, but to access it you needed a Digital ID, and the funds were programmable. Not only would spending be tracked, but certain types of transactions could be encouraged or restricted. Combined the Governments tentacles of control would be extended, and our liberties further eroded.
My worry is that we may be heading for an Aldous Huxley’s, Brave New World which will be controlled by the central planners. Even as we speak, the components are being strung together. So time to have your say.
