Contributed by Adam Carlton

Apple, Meta, Google, Amazon have joined Elon Musk’s X in a campaign to finish off what is left of Australia’s media ownership restriction law. The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), which represents them, replied to a request from the Office of the United States Trade Representative. A request asking for “comments to assist in reviewing and identifying unfair trade practices and initiating all necessary actions to investigate harm from non-reciprocal trade arrangements.”

In plain language, this move was generated by the Trump administration to return the favour to some of its biggest backers. It also has a great deal to do with the Trumpian ambition to control all media, not only in the United Stated, but also but also that of its decencies like Australia. Controlling media is an important part of the dream to impose United Sates hegemony and immunity across the planet.

The Silicon Valley moguls share this ambition.

Silicon Valley moguls Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Sundar Pichai attended as special guest to Donald Trump’s inauguration

Video from AP

Although part of their complaint over Australia’s laws that have brought in a new “incentive tax” of $AU250 million a year on social media platforms, with a caveat that it may be increased in the future. The most pressing concern is not this. This tax will only take up a small part of their earning. Mor more important is the obligation to devote between 10 and 20 percent of their local expenditure on local content.  

Media diversity has long been a hot topic in Australia, fed by the dominance of Rupert Murdoch and the Americanisation of Australian culture. There is a powerful sentiment against both within the broad community.

Silicon Valley demands free and unrestricted entry into social media Australia.

We are talking about the same social media platforms that have increasingly restricted content in their drive to become propaganda outlets for a narrow and elitist pollical view of the world. They are the propaganda arms of global United Sates dominance, and in their view, nothing should stand in the way of this.

Their ambition is to further restrict news available to Australians and impose their narrow view of the world as he only legitimates narrative. They want to bring in an era of massive censorship. Their ambition is an offensive against our right to know, and an on the sovereign rights of the nation.

Our government must be strongly urged to resist the pressure and stand up for Australia. The Silicon Valley companies should pay their fair share of tax to operate in Australia, and Australia has the right to defend its own culture and strive for the diversification of news available to the public.