One has to wonder...... and be alarmed as we witness another intrusion into transparency.
When will politicians realise that large corporations can't have their way all the time. The latest outrage in seeking to gag media reporting in the USA.
"When is journalism a criminal act? When it's bad for big business, according to new laws in the United States – laws that may be about to find their way to Australian shores.
This week a collaboration of journalists, activists and academics filed a lawsuit against legislation that is distorting the very nature of free speech in order to satisfy big industry interests. The laws, known as "ag-gag”, criminalise those who film, photograph or distribute images of animal enterprise industries such as factory farms. In some American states, they are expanded to include other industries such as logging or fracking.
One of those involved in the lawsuit is Washington DC based journalist and author Will Potter, who has spent over a decade investigating how corporate influences and US law enforcement has worked to silence political dissent. “I felt compelled to join this lawsuit because ag-gag laws are especially troubling to me as a journalist", said Potter.
"Whistleblowers and undercover investigators shine a light on criminal activity, and also standard industry practices. Without them, there would be no insight into the industry except for what the industry approves", he said. Amnesty International, the Humane Society and United Farmworkers are amongst the 59 organisations who have joined together to oppose the bills."
When will politicians realise that large corporations can't have their way all the time. The latest outrage in seeking to gag media reporting in the USA.
"When is journalism a criminal act? When it's bad for big business, according to new laws in the United States – laws that may be about to find their way to Australian shores.
This week a collaboration of journalists, activists and academics filed a lawsuit against legislation that is distorting the very nature of free speech in order to satisfy big industry interests. The laws, known as "ag-gag”, criminalise those who film, photograph or distribute images of animal enterprise industries such as factory farms. In some American states, they are expanded to include other industries such as logging or fracking.
One of those involved in the lawsuit is Washington DC based journalist and author Will Potter, who has spent over a decade investigating how corporate influences and US law enforcement has worked to silence political dissent. “I felt compelled to join this lawsuit because ag-gag laws are especially troubling to me as a journalist", said Potter.
"Whistleblowers and undercover investigators shine a light on criminal activity, and also standard industry practices. Without them, there would be no insight into the industry except for what the industry approves", he said. Amnesty International, the Humane Society and United Farmworkers are amongst the 59 organisations who have joined together to oppose the bills."
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