MEDIA RELEASE, 8 AUGUST 2025
Senator Babet Urges Australians to Stand Against Digital Surveillance
Senator Babet is calling on all freedom loving Australians to sign a petition demanding a Senate inquiry into the powers of the eSafety Commissioner and the creeping digital surveillance agenda threatening our civil liberties.
The latest move by the eSafety Commissioner will require age assurance for logged-in search engine users. This is yet another step towards total online control.
“The government says it’s about protecting kids but what they’re really building is a surveillance state, which could include such things as facial recognition, ID checks and biometric scans. This is not safety; this is authoritarianism wrapped in a friendly name," Senator Babet said.
“This isn’t just about Google or YouTube. It’s about the principle: should the government and Big Tech potentially have the power to track everything you search say and do online? As that is the direction we are heading in," he said.
The Senator is seeking support from the Liberal/National parties the Australian Greens and the cross bench in the next sitting of Parliament to launch an official Senate inquiry.
“We’ve beaten bad legislation before. When the Misinformation and Disinformation Bill threatened free speech Australians stood up and we won. That victory wasn’t handed to us. It happened because we raised our voices, signed petitions and demanded accountability. We can do it again. But I need you to get behind me. Let’s repeat that victory and send a clear message to Canberra, we will not surrender our privacy our freedom or our future.
“I can’t do this without you. I need your voice. Sign the petition and contact your Senators. Tell them to support this inquiry,” Senator Babet said.
