eSafety Commission Says It’s Not Interested in Online Censorship

Australia’s internet content regulator has denied being an “Orwellian” agency amid a debate over social media censorship. During a recent Budget Estimates hearing, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said her organisation did not operate as a “censor.” “We do not have powers or, frankly, the resources to proactively monitor the internet,” she said. “So, no, we’re not sitting in a dark room somewhere pushing a red button deleting content.” Ms. Inman Grant also refuted the idea that eSafety was using online tools to spy on Australian internet users. “And we are certainly not using social listening tools like [online media monitoring firm] Meltwater to measure anything other than how eSafety’s conversation is being recorded,” she said....