Abstract

Espionage has emerged as a leading national security threat for the digital age. Far from traditional wartime spy tactics, espionage now includes actors—including journalists—accessing and publishing sensitive information online to a global audience. This threat must be addressed; however, overbroad espionage laws have the capacity to criminalize legitimate journalism and chill free expression. This article examines the implications of Australia’s expansive 2018 counterespionage framework for foreign media. It argues that this broad suite of offenses creates a complex risk environment for global media reporting on issues that impact Australia’s national interest or foreign relations. These risks are exacerbated for media organizations owned or controlled by foreign governments and their journalists, sources, and associates. We consider whether the practical and political likelihood of extraterritorial enforcement alleviates the potential impact of the laws and argue for targeted reform to protect press freedom on a global scale.

摘要

间谍活动已成为数字时代的主要国家安全威胁。与传统的战时间谍战术不同，间谍活动现在包括演员（包括记者）在线访问和发布敏感信息给全球观众。必须解决这一威胁；然而，过于宽泛的间谍法有能力将合法新闻和言论自由定为犯罪。本文探讨了澳大利亚 2018 年广泛的反间谍框架对外国媒体的影响。它认为，这一系列广泛的罪行为全球媒体报道影响澳大利亚国家利益或外交关系的问题创造了复杂的风险环境。对于由外国政府拥有或控制的媒体机构及其记者、消息来源和同事来说，这些风险更加严重。