Press Release – Page 48 of 61 – Pirate Party Australia

Don’t Sue the Messenger, Says Pirate Party

Posted on February 22, 2012

Pirate Party Australia is concerned at the recent spike in litigation aimed against communication service providers, and calls for the Australian Parliament to grant protection for social media service providers and users that guarantees the full sanctuary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights in regard to freedom of opinion and expression.

Recently, Melbourne man Joshua Meggitt sued celebrity Marieke Hardy for defamation after she wrongly accused him to be the operator of a hate blog dedicated to her via social media platform Twitter. Despite an out-of-court settlement, Meggitt is now suing Twitter for ‘publishing’ Hardy’s claim, as well as for the subsequent 60,000 retweets[1].

Pirate Party Australia argues that Twitter is not a publisher, but instead is a service provider that empowers the public to self-publish their news, thoughts and opinions to the world. Australian lawmakers continue to live in the past, failing to distinguish between a newspaper that is subject to editorial control, and a mass communications medium that enables communication between citizens worldwide without selection, judgement or endorsement.

Pirate Party Australia Supports Judgment In Optus Copyright Case

Posted on February 9, 2012

Pirate Party Australia urges the Gillard Government not to consider any amendments to copyright law, following yesterday’s push by the heads of Australia’s biggest sporting codes for changes to the laws. The push for amendments comes little more than a week after Federal Court Justice Steven Rares ruled that Optus’ TV Now service – which allows users to record and playback free-to-air television with as little as a two minute delay – did not infringe copyright[1].

Pirate Party Australia supports the decision that the service provided is merely a progression from the ability to record television for viewing at a more convenient time.

Body Scanners Are “Security Theatre” Says Pirate Party Australia

Posted on February 7, 2012

Pirate Party Australia condemns Labor’s plan to install compulsory full body scanners at international airports[1]. These systems have been proven ineffective time and time again, and the privacy and economic forfeitures far outweigh any perceived security benefits.

Despite having had only a handful of “terrorist plots” domestically – none of which were successful – the Government continues to push the myth that privacy invasion is necessary for “security”. Considering that the few planned terrorist attacks in Australia have been prevented under current laws, Pirate Party Australia questions whether introducing new legislation is actually in the national interest.

Protection of Journalists’ Sources Vital

Posted on February 2, 2012

A recent verdict handed down by Justice Lucy McCallum in the NSW Supreme Court could see whistle-blowers and anonymous sources lose their rights to protection in future disputes over the accuracy of news reports[1]. Pirate Party Australia objects strongly to any moves that force the identities of anonymous sources to be disclosed, or to be exposed to undue litigation.

Pirate Party Australia Condemns Copyright Industry Censorship

Posted on February 2, 2012

Pirate Party Australia is aghast at the closed-door meeting facilitated by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport, where copyright holders have made demands that search engines Google, Bing and Yahoo actively censor search results[1][2].

“The lack of transparency is frightening, and echoes the opaque negotiations led by the Attorney-General’s Department between rights holders and internet service providers in Australia last September. Coupled with the secrecy surrounding ACTA and the TPP, we are beginning to see a clear picture of deliberate circumvention of the electorate in determining their future,” said Rodney Serkowski, founder of Pirate Party Australia. “We aim to lift the veil of secrecy that surrounds governmental decision making in both Australia and the rest of the world. The meetings here and in the UK are setting dangerous standards for the continued abuse of democratic processes.”