David Harvey & Ani O'Brien: The Return of the Online Regulator

In 2023, more than 18,000 Free Speech Union supporters told the Government they didn't want a single regulator for online content. The Minister dropped the plan in 2024. Two years on, it's back. Labour is promising a "digital duty of care" enforced by a new online regulator, and National's under-16 social media restrictions would hand new powers to Internal Affairs. Both are being sold as child safety. Both would reach every adult who goes online. Free Speech Union Executive Director Jillaine Heather is joined by retired District Court Judge David Harvey and political commentator Ani O'Brien. Harvey traces the idea from the Harmful Digital Communications Act to the Safer Online Services proposal, and explains why a digital duty of care is prior restraint under another name. O'Brien explains how the public service keeps reshaping the same plan until it sells, and why child safety polls so well in an election year. They also ask whether any of it would work for kids, why age verification means checking everyone, and what parents can do instead. Before you vote, ask your electorate candidates where they stand on lawful speech and age checks: https://fsu.nz/campaigns/online-freedom Why Labour's Digital Duty of Care sets no limit on adult speech: https://fsu.nz/publications/digital-duty-of-care-adult-speech Free to Speak is the official podcast of the New Zealand Free Speech Union. Uncensored conversations on free speech, civil liberties, and the people defending them. This episode is hosted by Free Speech Union Executive Director Jillaine Heather. Support the show https://www.fsu.nz/ https://x.com/NZFreeSpeech https://www.instagram.com/freespeechnz/ https://www.tiktok.com/@freespeechunionnz

David Harvey & Ani O'Brien: The Return of the Online Regulator | Free to Speak