The Australian Government’s Anti-‘Misinformation’ Crusade Threatens Free Speech Worldwide

By Brian Marlow & Tim Andrews

Sunday, November 24, 2024

 

Imagine a world where unelected bureaucrats from the other side of the world take away Americans’ First Amendment rights, deciding what we’re allowed to post, read, or share online. This scenario, reminiscent of Orwellian dystopia, is approaching reality with Australia’s proposed Misinformation and Disinformation Bill.

 

Currently under consideration, this bill grants Australian bureaucrats broad authority to regulate what counts as “misinformation” and “disinformation” on social-media platforms — with implications that extend far beyond Australia’s borders.

 

One of the bill’s most disturbing elements is its extraterritorial reach. Under Clause 3, the bill mandates that any social-media platform accessible to Australians must, regardless of its location, comply with Australian standards for content moderation. U.S.-based companies such as Facebook, Google, and X (formerly Twitter) would be forced to meet the regulations, facing penalties of up to 5 percent of their global revenue for noncompliance. If Australian regulators decide that a post violates their “misinformation” guidelines, they could demand its removal, regardless of where the author resides.

 

This framework would allow Australian officials, under a loosely defined standard of “harmful” content, to dictate what individuals outside Australia are allowed to say or see online. Social-media platforms, wary of steep penalties, would be forced to comply without rigorous review, giving Australian regulators de facto control over global discourse. It’s a setup as dystopian as it is real. While service providers are technically free to try to cut off services to Australia, more likely they simply would apply a one-size-fits-all approach to any content that was deemed “misinformation” and delete the content globally

 

Disturbingly, the global ambitions of Australia’s bill align with the agendas of key figures and organizations close to the Biden administration, suggesting that the U.S. may not be far from exploring similar approaches. One prominent example is Nina Jankowicz, who briefly headed the U.S. Disinformation Governance Board and has praised the work of the office of Australia’s eSafety commissioner, an entity that has targeted non-Australian creators for takedown. Her stance signals a troubling openness among some American officials to adopt similar censorship frameworks in the U.S., potentially under the guise of combating online threats.

 

Moreover, the U.S.-backed nongovernmental organization, Reset Tech Australia, funded by the U.S.-based Reset Tech, have championed Australia’s misinformation bill. Reset Tech’s stated mission to combat online threats to democracy may sound noble, but their advocacy for government-controlled discourse could have far-reaching consequences. Their support for this bill suggests that the Australian model may be part of a larger, coordinated push for restrictive censorship on a global scale.

 

Although the First Amendment protects Americans from direct government censorship, Australia’s misinformation bill could indirectly erode those protections. Social-media platforms often adopt standardized policies across jurisdictions, defaulting to the strictest regulations to ensure compliance. Should Australia enforce its new censorship regime, platforms would likely apply similar restrictions universally, chilling free speech not only in Australia but also in the United States and beyond.

 

The bill’s vague definitions of “misinformation” and “serious harm” open the door to abuse. Under this framework, content need not be factually incorrect to be censored; it could simply be controversial or inconvenient. Empowering bureaucrats to police “harmful” content allows for the suppression of political dissent, investigative journalism, and even legitimate scientific debate. In undermining free discourse, Australia’s misinformation bill threatens a cornerstone of democratic society: the ability to question authority and engage in open dialogue.

 

If passed, Australia’s misinformation bill could set a global precedent, inspiring other nations to enact similar legislation and potentially triggering a cascade of censorship laws worldwide. Americans, whose First Amendment rights protect their freedom to express themselves online, should not allow these rights to be compromised by foreign regulators.

 

For Americans who value free speech, raising their voices against this bill is essential. A unified message from U.S. citizens to Australian lawmakers could have a meaningful impact. By emphasizing that free speech is a fundamental right in any democracy, Americans may pressure Australia to reconsider this troubling legislation. Free speech is not merely an American value; it’s a universal principle essential to all democratic societies.

 

In a world where open communication is crucial for progress, concentrating the power to control information in the hands of a few could have disastrous consequences. Australia’s misinformation bill represents a potential censorship regime that, once implemented, might be difficult to dismantle. Americans must join the global fight to defend free speech, and urge our elected officials to do everything possible to stop Australia from enacting this bill.

 

This is not just Australia’s issue; it’s everyone’s. Free speech is a right that belongs to all, and we must remain vigilant to preserve it. By opposing Australia’s misinformation bill, Americans can take a stand against censorship and work to keep freedom of expression at the heart of our global society.