The proposed new online "misinformation" bill in Australia is criticized as the "most significant threat" to individual freedoms.

Officials in Australia have suggested new legislation aimed at combating online misinformation, but opponents argue that the measures could lead to excessive surveillance and an attack on free speech.

The introduction of misinformation legislation into federal parliament today is a chilling attack on every Australian's right to free speech. The new Bill expands censorship provisions, even though the government's first draft did not include them, as John Storey, Director of Law and Policy at the Institute of Public Affairs, stated on Sky News.

In Australia's peacetime history, Story considered the proposed laws to be the greatest threat to freedom of speech.

On Thursday, Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland unveiled a plan to combat misinformation and disinformation, labeling such issues a "serious threat" to the "safety and well-being" of Australia.

Companies that facilitate the spread of misinformation could face penalties of up to 5% of their global revenue, and tech companies would be required to establish codes of conduct and have an approved regulator to combat misinformation.

The laws would also impose a punishment of up to seven years in prison for doxxing someone and parents can sue for "serious invasions of privacy" related to their children, according to The Guardian.

Despite the outpouring of public concern, the new laws failed to address key issues raised from the first effort, and the Free Speech Union of Australia argued that the government scrapped the previous version after facing widespread condemnation.

The new laws have sparked criticism from various media outlets, with Elon Musk labeling the Australian government as "fascists" in a brief tweet. In response, Labor Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones dismissed Musk's comment as "crackpot stuff" and emphasized the importance of sovereignty in the matter.

Jones stated that any government, including the Australian government, has the right to enact laws to protect Australians from scammers and criminals.

Story criticized the government's plan to penalize alleged misinformation as "disingenuous," arguing that it conflates protecting Australians with empowering bureaucrats in Canberra to determine the official truth.

Storey stated that the federal government is exploiting heightened tensions and fears about harmful online content to push forward laws that will effectively censor political views.

The Economic Times reports that officials are concerned about the foreign threat posed by the influence peddled through social media platforms, which they believe could impact the upcoming federal election, to be held within the next year.

The government has relaxed its position on certain measures, including broadening the definition of "verifiable information" and "reasonably likely to cause harm," as well as allowing for the dissemination of content for academic, artistic, scientific, or religious purposes.

The Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, which aimed to recognize Indigenous Australians in the Constitution, brought the issue into sharp focus. Despite ultimately failing, the vote was marked by allegations of misinformation that officials found concerning.

The New York Times reported that the body developing the referendum would have the power to seize property or land if it passed, or that people would need to pay rent to Indigenous people if the measure were to pass.