The bill was introduced after a public outcry over the horrific "Roast Busters" scandal, in which a group of teenage boys fromAucklandwas accused of sexually assaulting drunk, under age girls and boasting about the acts on social media.
該法案推出之前,公眾曾對令人震驚的"Roast Busters"丑聞進行抗議.該事件中,一群奧克蘭的青少年被指控對醉酒的低齡少女進行性侵并且在社交媒體上對自己的行為大肆吹噓.
But in an editorial, New Zealand's Dominion Post said while the law's intentions were good, it went too far and could "pick up in its drift-net the sorts of noise and criticism that make for the talk of a free society".
但《新西蘭郵報》的一篇社論認為,雖然法律的意圖是好的,但規定過了線,它可能會"結束一個自由社會的各種聲音和批評".
Noting it effectively bans online communications judged "indecent", "false" or "used to harass an individual", the Post asked if reports on political expense scandals, or cartoons that mock religious figures, may also be banned under the legislation.
注意到該法規定所有被認定為"不雅","錯誤"或"用于騷擾他人"的網絡信息都將被禁止,《新西蘭郵報》提出疑問,稱政治費用丑聞和嘲笑宗教人物的漫畫是否也要依照該法被禁止.
The bill passed the New Zealand parliament with an overwhelming 116 to 5 majority.
該法案在新西蘭議會以116比5的壓倒性勝利通過.
Speaking against the bill, Greens MP Gareth Hughes said while its intent was noble, its definition of "harm" was "irresponsibly broad", and said the law could damage journalism in the country.
綠黨議員加雷斯·休斯對該法案表示反對,他表示,雖然其目的是高尚的,它定義的"傷害"是"寬泛的,不負責任的",并稱該法律可能會損害新西蘭的新聞行業.
Arguing what was not an offence offline should not be an offence online, Mr Hughes criticised the fact reporters were not exempt from the legislation, which he said may prevent them publishing online the same story about a corrupt MP which would be perfectly legal to publish in a newspaper.
休斯先生認為,線下不算冒犯的言論在線上也不應該歸為冒犯言論.他批評稱,該法案未對記者免責,這就有可能阻止他們把一篇發在報紙上完全沒問題的揭露貪腐議員的文章發布在網絡上.
