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Labor’s Ed Husic says the government will “harmonise where we can and localise where we have to” when it comes to AI and social media regulations, but the incoming Trump administration may have other ideas.
As the Australian government struggles to enact social media bans for minors and regulate the dissemination of disinformation and misinformation online, its efforts could lead to a free speech showdown with the United States under Donald Trump.
In a recent interview, Vice President-elect JD Vance warned that the US might soon look to link its military support with its views on freedom of speech.
“NATO wants us to continue being a good participant in this military alliance – why don’t you respect American values and respect free speech?” Vance said.
“It’s insane that we would support a military alliance if that military alliance isn’t going to be pro-free speech. I think we can do both, but we have to say that American power comes with certain strings attached, and one of those is respect free speech.”
While Vance was directly addressing NATO, it’s not a long bow to pull that a similar string may be attached to the long-term alliance between Australia and the US, particularly when it comes to the current AUKUS partnership.
In fact, that’s the very question that One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts asked of Brian Marlow, a campaigner with the conservative advocacy group CitizenGO. During yesterday’s (11 November) Senate inquiry into the Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill, Roberts asked Marlow directly if the bill might be “likely to undermine AUKUS”.
“Yes, it is, and the outcome of what President Trump has said effectively makes this bill null and void and dead in the water,” Marlow said.
Of course, coming from a man who is also the campaign director of Legalise Vaping Australia and executive director of the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance – hardly expert bodies in international defence policy – Marlow’s belief is hardly backed by expertise.
Labor’s Ed Husic is looking to find a safe middle ground, however. When asked recently about Trump’s promises to repeal regulations around AI development and his plans to combat censorship and any interference with free speech, Husic said his government would seek to “harmonise where we can and localise where we have to”.
“That is, we will work with other [countries] where we absolutely can find common ground, to give people the assurance in the Australian context about the use of AI, we will take the steps necessary so people have the confidence to use it,” Husic said.
Speaking on social media regulations, Husic added that he believes Australians “want us to be able to deal with issues in a way that reflects our national priorities. And so I think you’ll see we continue to do what we have to do”.
But if the US demands that Australia must bend its knee to the US view on free speech and censorship to remain a military partner, it will be interesting to see just how far harmony can take the government.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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