The Orwellian machinery critics are desperate to protect is the algorithms, not laws that seek to reduce harm

‘Calling something “Orwellian censorship” is just one of the many sure-fire ways to get noticed by social media algorithms,’ Ed Coper writes on Australia’s digital duty of care bill. Photograph: Posed by model; MementoJpeg/Getty Images

The algorithms have been kind to Pauline Hanson, which must be why she was so quick to jump to their defence when the Albanese government moved to rein them in this week.

“Labor is copying the Chinese Communist Party’s censorship playbook,” she posted on Facebook, of all places – you know, the platform that is alleged to have compliantly adopted the Chinese Communist party’s censorship playbook, in order to operate in China.