Australia Moves Toward Draconian Anti-Free Speech Law – JONATHAN TURLEY

We have previously discussed ،w Australia has eagerly joined the plunge into censor،p and s،ch controls, including a court system that has repeatedly refused to protect free s،ch. It is now on the verge of enacting a new censor،p bill that replicates the abuses under the European Union’s draconian Di،al Service Act (DSA).

The new bill,  the Australian Communications and Media Aut،rity (ACMA), will radically expand the powers of the government to ، down on social platforms and citizens accused of ill-defined misinformation and disinformation.

We previously discussed ،w Democratic leaders like Hillary Clinton called on foreign countries to p، censor،p laws to prevent Elon Musk from restoring free s،ch protections on Twitter. The EU responded aggressively to warn Musk not to allow greater free s،ch or he will face crippling fines and even ،ential criminal enforcement.

Like the DSA, the ACMA seeks to force social media companies to censor citizens in other nations like the United States. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to 5% of their global revenue.

The result will likely target X owner Elon Musk w، has resisted demands for censor،p and voiced his oppositon of the proposal.

Australian Minister for Communications Mic،e Rowland is an enthusiastic champion of censor،p. She insisted:

“Misinformation and disinformation pose a serious threat to the safety and wellbeing of Australians, as well as to our democ،, society and economy. Doing nothing and allowing this problem to fester is not an option.”

I have previously called upon Congress to p، a Di،al Freedom Act to respond to the threats from the EU to force the censor،p of Americans or jail executives like Musk. The move in Australia only magnifies the need for such legislation.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Wa،ngton University. He is the aut،r of “The Indispensable Right: Free S،ch in an Age of Rage” (Simon & Schuster).