Policy Critique8 min readDraft
The Online Safety Act tries to respond to real harms. That matters. But safety regimes can create pressure for platforms to remove too much, too quickly, and with too little explanation.
When legal risk is high and procedural obligations are weak, platforms are incentivised to build private censorship infrastructure. Users may lose access or speech without knowing why, how to appeal, or whether the decision was automated.
Safety should not be separated from due process. The legitimacy of online safety law depends on both.
Safety without due process can become private censorship by another name.
Online Safety ActDue processContent governance
