A Perth woman has launched a petition calling on the federal communications minister to ban access to the livestream of a US execution.

Click play to hear about the petition.

The US Secretary of Defence announced that the administration would livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 unarmed US soldiers at a military base in 2009.

Petition starter Marie Hall told 6PR Weekends that the broadcast is dangerous for children.

“It’s extreme content, it’s very harmful for children and I just do not think Australian children should be exposed to that. It’s no different to an ISIS beheading video, to be honest,” she said.

Corinna Lain, a professor of law at the University of Richmond and author of Secrets of the Killing State, told 6PR Weekends host Chrissy Morrissy that the decision was a hallmark of authoritarianism.

“This is a signature move of an authoritarian government, there is nothing so effective at quelling dissent than watching the government kill people,” she said.

Click play to hear from Professor Lain.

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