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US lawmakers demand testimony from Australia's internet regulator
US Republican Jim Jordan has summoned Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant to testify before Congress, accusing her of overreach in enforcing content restrictions that allegedly threaten free speech in America. The hearing request, issued November 19, demands her appearance by December 2-just days before Australia's ban on social media for users under 16 takes effect.
Allegations of 'global censorship'
In a sharply worded letter, Jordan-chair of the House Judiciary Committee-called Inman Grant a "noted zealot for global takedowns" and claimed her enforcement of Australia's Online Safety Act (OSA) imposes "extraterritorial jurisdiction" on US companies. He argued the law's provisions could censor American users, citing her 2023 legal push to remove videos of a Sydney church stabbing from Elon Musk's platform X.
The attack, livestreamed and later classified as a terrorist incident, prompted Inman Grant's office to threaten fines against platforms hosting the footage. While X initially resisted, it later restricted access in Australia after the case was dropped.
Accusations of 'pro-censorship collusion'
Jordan's letter also referenced a speech Inman Grant delivered at Stanford University earlier this year, calling it "troubling" and alleging the university had previously sought to suppress "lawful American speech." He accused her of collaborating with US groups to advance "global censorship regimes," warning such actions set a precedent for other governments to follow.
"Your expansive interpretation of Australia's OSA-including claims of jurisdiction over speech outside Australia-directly threatens American free speech rights," Jordan wrote.
Australia's response
A spokesperson for Inman Grant stated she is "considering" the invitation but emphasized her role enforces Australian law, not US policy. "There's nothing eSafety is doing that prevents American companies from displaying whatever they want to Americans," the statement read, adding she is accountable to Australia's Communications Minister and Parliament.
Context: Australia's upcoming social media ban
The hearing request coincides with Australia's impending December 5 ban on social media access for users under 16, a measure critics argue could further escalate tensions over digital sovereignty and free expression. Jordan's letter frames the issue as a test of whether foreign regulations can dictate online speech beyond their borders.
