Democracy is not robbing people of their right to dignity - Ashwin Raj

The Online Safety Bill, through the establishment of an Online Safety Commission, sets out a transparent redress mechanism for those that are most vulnerable and susceptible to abuse and violence on the social media.

These are the comments of the Director of the Human Rights and Anti‑Discrimination Commission, Ashwin Raj while making his submission on the Online Safety Bill.

He says the thresholds that the bill has developed are very good and sets out a clear criteria.

When asked by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights Chairperson, Ashneel Sudhakar about the definition of harm in the bill being too wide, Raj says the definition of harm is too narrow.

Raj says democracy is not robbing people of their right to dignity.

He says people need to know and be able to hold those people accountable who put up compromising posts about them.

Raj also says that the Human Rights and Anti‑Discrimination Commission will be more than happy to assist the Online Safety Commission in their work.