World Economic Forum Panelist Calls for ‘Recalibration’ of Freedom of Speech 

The “recalibration” will create a “safer digital future.”

QUICK FACTS:
  • Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman spoke about changing freedom of speech during comments at the World Economic Forum, according to The National Pulse.
  • Inman’s comments came Monday while speaking on a panel in Davos focused on “Ushering in a Safer Digital Future.”
  • During her address, the former Twitter executive told the assembled group of some of the wealthiest people in the world that “we’re going to have to think about a recalibration of a whole range of human rights.”
  • “We are finding ourselves in a place where we have increasing polarization everywhere, and everything feels binary when it doesn’t need to be,” the Australian official said.
  • “So I think we’re going to have to think about a recalibration of a whole range of human rights that are playing out online – from freedom of speech, to be free from online violence,” Inman went on to say. “Or the right of data protection, to the right of child dignity.”
WHAT INMAN DOES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT:
  • As part of her job as Australia’s eSafety Commission, Inman appears to be part of a board that defines its purpose as “help[ing] safeguard all Australians from online harms and to promote safer, more positive online experiences.”
  • “We prevent online harm by developing resources and programs based on robust evidence; We protect Australians and alleviate harm with our regulatory and reporting schemes; and we are proactive in minimizing harms with initiatives that make our digital environments safer and more inclusive,” adds its mission statement.
BACKGROUND:
  • Prior to her position as part of an Australian government entity, Inman served as the Director of Public Policy for Twitter in Australia and South East Asia.
  • The World Economic Forum’s conference comes on the heels of a “pause” being put on the United States’ Disinformation Governance Board. The board was put on hold due to backlash toward leader Nina Jankowicz.

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