Proposed genocide laws cops criticism

Australians could be put behind bars for "liking" a Facebook page or retweeting a post that advocates genocide under proposed new laws, an inquiry has heard.

Draft legislation before the Senate makes publicly advocating genocide a criminal offence and punishable by a maximum of seven years' imprisonment.

The NSW Muslim Legal Network says the proposal could have many unintended consequences, given the bill's vagueness around what constitutes "public" advocacy.

"Could liking or sharing a post or something as simple as that advocate genocide? We just don't know," vice-president Rabea Khan told a joint parliamentary committee on Monday.

The Law Council of Australia and Australian Human Rights Commission shared similar concerns.

The council said it would have limited practical benefit to law enforcement agencies, and it was unclear why the offence should distinguish between publicly advocating genocide and private advocacy.

"Arguably, private advocacy might be more dangerous," the council said in its submission.

The Attorney-General's Department has been asked to provide some examples of the type of conduct intended to be captured by the proposed laws.