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The US has rebuked Australia for its censorship of ‘Billboard Chris’ Elston, in a hint that future trade negotiations could hinge on the Albanese government’s respect for free speech and democratic values.

The United States has formally rebuked the Albanese government for pressuring tech companies to censor critics of gender ideology, citing a recent case involving Canadian activist Chris Elston, also known as “Billboard Chris”.

In a public statement released by the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, the American government expressed “deep concern” over what it described as growing efforts by foreign governments – including Australia – to coerce US-based tech companies to censor online speech.

The statement, shared on social media in late April, criticised Australia alongside the European Union and Turkey for attempting to suppress political speech. It singled out the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s suppression a post on X by Chris Elston, who campaigns against the surgical and chemical castration of children.

“Even when content may be objectionable, censorship undermines democracy, suppresses political opponents, and degrades public safety,” the State Department said. “Freedom of expression must be protected – online and offline.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that American diplomacy would continue to prioritise “fundamental freedoms” around the world, signalling that US trade negotiations with Australia may hinge on the Albanese government’s respect for free speech.

[1/3] The Department of State is deeply concerned about efforts by governments to coerce American tech companies into targeting individuals for censorship. Freedom of expression must be protected – online and offline.

— Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, & Labor (DRL) (@StateDRL) May 1, 2025

‘Billboard Chris’ Case Draws Global Attention

At the centre of the controversy is a social media post from Elston criticising Australian transgender activist Teddy Cook, who was appointed as a member of a World Health Organisation advisory panel.

The eSafety Commissioner issued a takedown notice for Elston’s post in April 2024, claiming it used pronouns in a way that was “likely intended to cause serious harm”.

In the post – now geoblocked in Australia but visible elsewhere – Elston shared a Daily Mail article critical of Cook’s activism for bondage, bestiality, nudism, drugs, and tax-funded sex-change operations. He followed up with commentary calling for caution about who is given influence over gender policy, stating: “Children are beautiful just as they are. No drugs or scalpels needed.”

Elston, supported by ADF International and the Human Rights Law Alliance, was recently in Australia challenging the removal order in a Melbourne tribunal, with a verdict expected later this year.

“The decision of Australian authorities to prevent citizens from hearing and evaluating information about gender ideology is a patronising affront to the principles of democracy,” said Robert Clarke, Director of Advocacy at ADF International.

The US government’s intervention follows increasing concerns about the erosion of free speech in historically democratic nations. The State Department also cited troubling incidents in Europe, including the conviction of a UK Christian woman, Dr Livia Tossici-Bolt, who offered prayer outside an abortion clinic. The department expressed disappointment with the UK court’s decision, stating, “Freedom of expression must be protected for all.”

Australia’s eSafety Powers Under Scrutiny

The crackdown on dissenting views — particularly on issues of sexuality and gender — has sent a shockwave through Christian and conservative groups who see a pattern of suppression targeting those with commonsense moral convictions.

Elston welcomed the State Department’s support, calling it a “beacon of liberty” under the Trump administration. “If our free speech can’t be protected when we speak out against the greatest child abuse scandal in the world right now, when can it be?”, he said.

Excellent news!

The U.S. State Department has come out in support of my fight for free speech against the Australian government.

In a time of great censorship across the West, the U.S. under Trump is once again a beacon of liberty, applying pressure to governments around the… pic.twitter.com/8oAngg5h10

— Billboard Chris 🌎 (@BillboardChris) May 3, 2025

Australia’s Online Safety Act gives the eSafety Commissioner authority to compel platforms to remove content deemed harmful. Critics argue these powers are being used to silence legitimate political and ethical debate, especially when it conflicts with progressive social agendas.

Current eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant, a dual American-Australian citizen, previously dismissed the First Amendment as something that “does not apply in Australia” during an interview in Davos. She also told a World Economic Forum panel that she believed human rights like freedom of speech are in need of “recalibration”.

Is Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, serving the interests of the Australian public or other global entities, including the censorship industrial complex?

Prior to being recruited by the Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, the former Twitter and Microsoft… pic.twitter.com/mdIwJmGtty

— Rukshan Fernando (@therealrukshan) February 19, 2024

Freedom of political communication, while not an explicit right in Australia, is implied under the Constitution. Legal experts have raised concerns that state-enforced censorship could breach this principle and create a chilling effect on open discourse.

The eSafety Commissioner has declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.

The US government’s rebuke of Australia signals a growing divide between Western nations on the boundaries of free speech. For Christians and defenders of traditional values, the case of Billboard Chris represents more than just a social media dispute — it is a defining test of whether biblical truth can still be proclaimed in the public square.

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Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.