# Digital duty laws won't censor free speech, Wells says

> Australia's communications minister defends new online safety legislation against claims it amounts to censorship.
- Title: Digital duty laws won't censor free speech, Wells says
- Summary: Australia's communications minister defends new online safety legislation against claims it amounts to censorship. Communications minister Anika Wells says…
- Keywords: anika wells, digital duty of care, online safety, australian politics, legislation, free speech, news, politics, Digital, duty, laws, won't
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/technology/video/2026/oct/15/digital-duty-laws-still-allow-manosphere-content-and-conspiracy-theories-says-wells-video
- Published: 2026-10-15T04:31:40+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: anika wells, digital duty of care, online safety, australian politics, legislation, free speech, news, politics
## New digital duty laws introduced
Australia's communications minister Anika Wells introduced digital duty of care legislation to parliament today, designed to regulate online harms and protect internet safety.
## Adults can still access contested content
Wells says adults can still listen to manosphere podcasts or claim the moon landing was fake under the new laws, dispelling myths that the legislation amounts to censorship.
## Not surveillance or free speech control
Wells told the National Press Club: we are not controlling free speech, we are not conducting covert surveillance. The digital duty of care is not a stepping stone for regulating misinformation and disinformation.

> We are not controlling free speech, we are not conducting covert surveillance. The digital duty of care is not a stepping stone for regulating misinformation and disinformation
## Key takeaway

Communications minister Anika Wells says new digital duty of care laws introduced to parliament will not censor free speech or stop adults accessing manosphere content and conspiracy theories.