Abstract:  There are undoubted harms being caused by social media, and an absolutist approach to freedom of speech is untenable. But government efforts to limit these harms now threaten to generate their own problems. 

The Australian Government’s Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2024 is a risky move. The risks to freedom of speech have been widely discussed. Less discussed are the risks to the Government’s own credibility. By setting up ACMA as an arbiter of truth is setting up the regulator for failure. This threatens both freedom of speech and public trust in government.