Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur for her presentation and report.

Australia is committed to upholding freedom of opinion and expression, including in situations of armed conflict.

Freedom of opinion and expression, including media freedoms and freedom online, is vital for keeping people safe, exposing human rights violations and abuses, seeking justice and accountability, resolving conflicts and maintaining peace.

Australia condemns attacks on journalists, human rights defenders and CSOs, closure of independent media outlets, internet shutdowns and regulation of digital platforms in ways that undermine human rights and threathen peace and security.

While disinformation, propaganda and incitement of hatred and violence has long been a feature of war, we are seriously concerned by the speed and scale that these are being created, distributed and amplified by digital technology.  We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s specific recommendations for States, and for companies, on digital content moderation, in line with international law.

Australia has developed a carefully balanced regulatory system to ensure that Australians’ freedom of expression and opinion are respected, while also regulating the darker elements of the internet in a targeted, measured and defensible way.  We are working with international partners to counter the spread of disinformation that sow hate, incite violence and prolong conflict.

We are deeply concerned by the disproportionate impact of disinformation on women, children and LGBTI persons, which too often comes in the form of hate speech and leads to violence and entrenched discrimination.  This is amplified in conflict settings.  Special Rapporteur, what more can States do, together with companies and civil society, to reduce these impacts?