The prevalent “do something, anything” mindset has been observed in action too frequently. The recent knife attack in Perth, where the attacker was shot by police, is the second religiously motivated knife attack in a month. The blame is being placed on “online radicalization” for these attacks involving young 16-year-old males. Calls for increased internet censorship in response to these events are common, but this knee-jerk reaction may not address the root causes of religiously motivated violence. Granting broad powers to combat “online hate” may lead to erosion of rights without addressing the core issues. The individuals tasked with censoring online content are likely to target center-right viewpoints, while hate speech continues unchecked. The push for censorship may not be neutral and could disproportionately affect conservative voices. The focus on online radicalization should not take precedence over addressing institutional biases and ensuring a fair and balanced approach to regulation.
Certainly not by conservatives.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
