Media and tech companies revolt as law against violent online material set to pass

obby groups representing the tech and media industries, as well as Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, have united to criticise new laws being fast-tracked through Parliament to curb the spread of violent content online.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has revealed that operators of "radical, fanatical" websites like 8chan could face jail time under the new legislation,

but conceded that major social media companies are more likely to face eye-watering financial penalties than have executives imprisoned.

"With organisations like 8chan, which grew out of 4chan, there are very often on these smaller websites — radical, fanatical websites — individuals who are responsible for the hosting service, who would now face up to three years' jail, potentially … whom we would indict, attempt to extradite and prosecute," he said.

Lobby group DIGI, which represents Facebook, Google, Twitter and Amazon, said in a letter to the government that the new laws do "nothing to address hate speech, which was the fundamental motivation for the tragic Christchurch terrorist attacks".

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/media-and-tech-companies-revolt-as-laws-against-violent-online-material-set-to-pass-20190403-p51abj.html