Posts Tagged ‘Harmful Digital Communications Bill’

A silly act: it begins

Written By: - Date published: 2:36 pm, August 20th, 2015 - 7 comments

When Parliament passed the Harmful Digital Communications Act, many people warned that it would be abused to stifle political speech. And it has, with NZ First MP Tracey Martin incorrectly accusing a political blogger (who supported a rival NZ First MP) of violating the Act. A bad first start. But it figures, the act is silly, slow and unworkable.

Greens allow split vote on online speech bill

Written By: - Date published: 3:35 pm, June 30th, 2015 - 87 comments

The Greens will split their vote on the Harmful Digital Communications Bill.

Update: The Bill has passed.

Only ACT standing up for free speech?

Written By: - Date published: 8:46 am, June 26th, 2015 - 76 comments

ACT has withdrawn support for the Harmful Digital Communications Bill. Bravo. Labour, Greens – where do you stand on this badly drafted and damaging bill?

NRT: Hoist by her own petard?

Written By: - Date published: 2:41 pm, June 3rd, 2014 - 20 comments

One should defend the right of a politician and anyone else to be a complete dork on the net. Even Judith Collins doesn’t need two years in jail for lying to a reporter about another reporter or tweeting bullying abusive rubbish. However many would see Collins’ tweets as “part of the cut and thrust between politicians and journalists”, and they’d be right. But the fact that they would be illegal under her law shows just how awful that law is

NRT: A committee of fuckwits

Written By: - Date published: 10:24 am, May 28th, 2014 - 16 comments

The Justice and Electoral Committee has reported back on the Harmful Digital Communications Bill. The bill attempts to outlaw “harmful digital communications” – defined as anything causing “serious emotional distress” – and imposes a regime of court orders, takedown notices, and criminal penalties. The latter would effectively reintroduce the offence of criminal libel – but only on the internet. Some sad old fuckwits in Parliament are scared of us and scared of our future.

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