Australia's eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant, has been formally summoned to appear before the United States Congress following accusations that her enforcement of Australia's Online Safety Act threatens American freedom of speech.
Congressional Confrontation Over Content Moderation
The Committee on the Judiciary of the US House of Representatives issued a direct demand to Ms Inman-Grant, requiring her to answer questions about Australia's controversial online safety legislation. The letter, obtained by Sky News Australia, was authored by committee chair Jim Jordan, a prominent ally of former president Donald Trump.
Jim Jordan delivered sharp criticism, claiming that Australia's "expansive interpretation and enforcement" of the Online Safety Act "directly threatens American speech." The Republican congressman went further in his personal attacks, labelling Ms Inman-Grant a "noted zealot for global takedowns" and accusing her of collaborating with US-based organisations and universities to advance what he termed "foreign censorship regimes."
Global Implications of Australia's Digital Laws
The confrontation highlights growing international tensions over how nations regulate online content across borders. Mr Jordan explicitly stated that his committee's investigation aims to understand foreign laws like Australia's Online Safety Act to develop American legislation protecting US companies and citizens from overseas regulation.
Ms Inman-Grant has been summoned to appear in the United States in December, just two weeks after the committee issued its formal letter. While attendance remains voluntary for the Australian official, a spokesperson for the US House Committee told Sky News: "If there is nothing to hide then she should voluntarily appear."
In response to the allegations, an eSafety spokesperson denied that the Online Safety Act requires global content removal, suggesting that geo-blocking - restricting content based on user location - represents a reasonable compromise. The spokesperson emphasised: "There's nothing we're doing that prevents American companies from displaying whatever they want to Americans."
Broader Context of Australia's Online Safety Push
The Albanese government's Online Safety Act 2021 has significantly strengthened Australia's existing online protection framework. Among its most controversial provisions, young Australians under 16 will be banned from using major social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and Snapchat from December 10.
The federal government defends these measures as essential for protecting children from harmful online content. However, critics note significant gaps in the legislation, particularly exemptions for gaming and messaging applications that raise questions about what actually qualifies as social media.
It's important to note that the eSafety Commissioner lacks authority to formally designate platforms as age-restricted, though the office can make recommendations and request platforms to conduct self-assessments against legislated criteria.
