Australia’s Digital Censorship Surge: A Threat to Free Expression, By Paul Walker

Australia, once a beacon of pragmatic democracy, is sliding toward a troubling era of digital censorship, driven by overzealous policies and activist groups exploiting "child safety" as a pretext to control online content. The Albanese government's world-first social media ban for under-16s, targeting platforms like YouTube, and the activist group Collective Shout's campaign to pressure payment processors into banning adult-themed video games, signal a broader erosion of free speech. These moves, cloaked in moral righteousness, risk transforming Australia into a surveillance state reminiscent of Orwell's 1984. As the government pushes its censorship model globally, Australia must urgently reinforce free speech protections to preserve its democratic ethos and prevent a descent into digital tyranny.

The Social Media Ban: Overreach Under the Guise of Safety

In August 2025, the Albanese government announced a draconian social media ban for Australians under 16, targeting platforms including YouTube, with penalties of up to $49.5 million for non-compliance. The policy, championed by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant, rests on a claim that "up to four in ten young people under 16" are harmed by YouTube engagement. Yet, a Freedom of Information request obtained by Sky News exposed this as misleading. The underlying survey showed YouTube to be among the safest platforms, with children facing greater risks of bullying via text messages than online. This flimsy justification for banning a platform used by millions for education, maths tutorials, history lessons, and creative skills, reveals a troubling disregard for evidence.

YouTube's role as a learning tool is undeniable. From teenagers fixing phones to teachers directing students to "how-to" videos, it democratises knowledge. Banning it for under-16s, enforced by invasive age-verification systems, not only restricts access to valuable content, but also sets a precedent for broader censorship. Albanese's plan to promote this model at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 risks exporting Australia's restrictive approach, encouraging other nations to adopt similar controls. This global ambition amplifies the stakes: a misstep in Australia could ripple across democracies, normalising state oversight of digital speech.

Collective Shout: Censorship Through Financial Pressure

Parallel to government overreach, the activist group Collective Shout has taken censorship to new heights by targeting adult-themed video games. By pressuring payment processors like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Stripe to cut off services to platforms like Steam and Itch.io, Collective Shout has forced the removal or deindexing of thousands of games, over 20,000 on Itch.io alone. Citing "child safety" and "ethical concerns," the group has targeted not just explicit content but also games with LGBTQ+ themes or romantic elements, often without clear justification. Indie developers, already vulnerable, report games being removed without warning, stifling creativity and livelihoods.

This tactic, weaponising financial institutions as de facto censors, sets a dangerous precedent. As feminist critic Anita Sarkeesian noted, legal content should be purchasable without interference from "puritanical angry moms." Collective Shout's success in bypassing legislative or judicial oversight shows how private entities can be coerced into enforcing moral agendas, effectively controlling what adults can access. This isn't about protecting children; it's about imposing a narrow worldview, undermining the principle that individuals should decide for themselves what to consume.

Anarcho-Tyranny Down Under: A Pattern of Control

These developments reflect a broader trend of "anarcho-tyranny," where the state neglects core duties—like addressing rising urban crime or economic pressures—while aggressively policing speech and culture. Australia's post-pandemic trajectory, marked by draconian lockdowns and protest crackdowns, has eroded civil liberties. The social media ban and Collective Shout's campaigns are symptoms of a state and its allies prioritising control over freedom. The eSafety Commissioner's powers, expanded under the Online Safety Act 2021, allow content removal for vaguely defined "harm," mirroring Britain's Online Safety Act and Germany's NetzDG. Meanwhile, strict defamation laws and Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act already chill expression, as seen in past cases against journalists and academics.

The YouTube ban's reliance on age verification raises further concerns. Digital ID systems, potentially required to enforce the ban, could enable mass surveillance, tracking users' online activities under the guise of safety. Posts on X highlight public scepticism, with users decrying "eKarens" and warning of a "nanny state." The erosion of trust in institutions, already at historic lows, is compounded by these heavy-handed policies, which sideline evidence and public input in favour of moral panic.

Global Parallels: A Warning from Abroad

Australia's censorship surge echoes troubling trends elsewhere, discussed at the blog today. In Germany, prosecutors are targeting X managers for adhering to international data-sharing protocols, criminalising resistance to state demands for user information. In Britain, arrests for "non-crime hate incidents" and the Online Safety Act's broad censorship powers illustrate a similar pattern: governments neglecting basic law enforcement while cracking down on speech. These cases show how quickly democracies can slide into authoritarianism when "safety" becomes a pretext for control. Australia's push to globalise its social media ban, risks amplifying this trend, encouraging other nations to adopt restrictive frameworks that choose state power over individual rights.

The Stakes: Why Free Speech Matters

Free speech is the bedrock of a pluralistic society, enabling debate, innovation, and accountability. YouTube's educational value, from teaching calculus to empowering creators, exemplifies how open platforms foster knowledge and creativity. Similarly, video games, even those with mature themes, are legitimate expressions of art and culture. Suppressing them, whether through government bans or activist-driven financial chokeholds, stifles diversity and agency. In a multicultural nation like Australia, where robust debate is essential to social cohesion, censorship risks alienating communities and fuelling division.

The economic impact is also significant. The gaming industry, including indie developers, contributes billions to Australia's economy. Collective Shout's actions threaten jobs and innovation, while the social media ban could deter tech investment, as platforms face hefty fines and bureaucratic hurdles. Moreover, the global push for Australia's model could harm its reputation as a free and open market, discouraging international collaboration.

Australia's Path Forward: Restoring Liberty

To halt this slide into digital tyranny, Australia must act decisively:

1.Repeal or Reform the Social Media Ban: Scrap the under-16 ban or limit it to evidence-based risks, ensuring platforms like YouTube remain accessible for education. Any age-verification system must prioritise privacy and avoid surveillance creep.

2.Protect Creative Freedom: Enact laws to prevent payment processors from acting as censors, ensuring legal content remains purchasable. Support indie developers by clarifying content guidelines and offering appeal mechanisms.

3.Strengthen Free Speech Protections: Introduce a federal free speech act or constitutional amendment, adopting a US-style Brandenburg test to limit restrictions to speech inciting imminent harm. Narrow Section 18C and defamation laws to reduce their chilling effect.

4.Enhance Transparency: Require eSafety and activist groups to publish data and methodologies behind "harm" claims, subjecting them to public and academic scrutiny. FOI requests, like Sky News', should be standard practice.

5.Resist Global Censorship: Abandon plans to promote the social media ban internationally, advocating instead for open internet principles at forums like the UN.

Conclusion: A Fight for the Digital Future

Australia's social media ban and Collective Shout's censorship campaigns are not isolated overreaches but part of a broader assault on free expression. By adopting control over evidence and individual choice, the government and its allies risk transforming Australia into a digital dystopia. The parallels with Britain and Germany, where speech is increasingly policed while core governance falters, serve as a warning. Australians must demand accountability, protect platforms like YouTube and Steam, and reject the "eKaren" mindset that seeks to dictate what can be said, seen, or played. The fight for free speech is a fight for democracy itself.

https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2025/08/australia-is-a-nation-of-ekarens/