The Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America (together, "the Participants") have reached the following understandings:

I. Purpose

The Participants are both committed to collaboration aimed at reducing the threat and impact of foreign state information manipulation, and to building resilient civil society institutions and information ecosystems. The Participants acknowledge that ongoing analysis and actions to address this threat are essential. They should be pursued alongside comprehensive efforts to proactively and persuasively communicate the Participants' affirmative shared vision premised on a common determination to preserve regional and global stability, prosperity, and peace through international cooperation.

II. Framework for Countering Foreign State Information Manipulation

The Participants endorse the following five action areas as a framework for future bilateral efforts to counter foreign state information manipulation:

1. Effectively addressing foreign state information manipulation depends upon countries going beyond "monitor-and-report" approaches, to include developing strategies and implementing actions to counter this threat.
2. Marshalling and administering a national-level approach to countering foreign state information manipulation benefits from designated governance structures and institutions.
3. Effectively countering foreign state information manipulation depends upon having the technical means and human capacity to maintain threat awareness.
4. Civil society, independent media, and academia can play essential roles in informing, and supporting the goals of, government-led initiatives to counter foreign state information manipulation.
5. Multilateral organizations and plurilateral groupings that are leveraging international cooperation to counter and build resilience against foreign state information manipulation are indispensable to alleviating information and capability shortfalls across partner nations.

III. Scope

To deepen the Participants' collaboration on these challenges, the Participants reaffirm the existing bilateral working group established at the 2020 Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations ("Working Group") and intend to align future Working Group discussions and activity with the framework described in Section II. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Strategic Communications Division ("SGD"), on behalf of the Government of Australia, and the U.S. Department of State, including the Global Engagement Center ("GEC"), on behalf of the Government of the United States of America, are intended to continue to jointly lead the Working Group. Where relevant, the Participants intend to bring in other partners from across their respective governments in addition to GEC and SGD, and (where appropriate and mutually determined) non-government sectors, in furtherance of the above five action areas. The Participants intend to pursue and promote new and ongoing activities through the Working Group. The Participants further intend to pursue and promote other activities as may be mutually determined between the Participants. This MoU, and the activities pursued and promoted under it, is expected to be reviewed annually by the Participants.

IV. Implementation, Revision, Status, and Discontinuation

This MoU becomes operative upon signature by both Participants and continues for a period of four (4) years. It may be revised by mutual decision of the Participants in writing. Either of the Participants may discontinue this MoU through notification in writing to the other. This MoU is not legally binding and does not give rise to any rights or obligations under international or domestic law. Any issue that may arise between the Participants in connection with the interpretation or application of this MoU is to be resolved amicably by consultations between the Participants. Any cooperation hereunder is subject to the availability of funds for such purposes; and any costs would be borne as mutually decided.