Foreign Government Harassment
Foreign government harassment occurs when a foreign government engages in harassment, intimidation, or surveillance of people to suppress their expression of contrary views.
Foreign government harassment on university campuses can include foreign powers or their proxies seeking to inappropriately influence course content, research directions, and staff and student actions.
In a campus environment, foreign government harassment can manifest in different ways, including:
- Threats, intimidation, or harassment of students or university staff, either online or in person.
- Inappropriate identification of, or sharing of, student or staff details (‘doxing’). This can also include reporting, or threatening to report on, fellow staff or students to foreign government agencies.
- Online disinformation campaigns through social media.
- Stalking and unwanted physical or electronic surveillance.
- Â Censorship or self-censorship to avoid harassment or being reported to a foreign actor.
- Coercion through threatening family or friends overseas.
- Attempts to covertly influence how topics are perceived, including interference with discussion on campus.
Such actions do not align with Academic Freedom, and the ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Code of Conduct and Values.
Where such actions may have been carried out by, or on behalf of a foreign state actor, this could constitute foreign government harassment. You are encouraged to Speak Up and submit a report to ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Conduct and Integrity.
Talk to someone
If you are unsure whether something is worth reporting, have concerns about how your report is being handled, or would like to talk to someone in more detail about foreign government harassment, please reach out to fgh@unsw.edu.au
All communications are held in complete confidence and any personal information will not be shared without your written permission.
Foreign Government Harassment at ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø
At ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø, foreign government harassment includes any situation where a foreign government either directly or via another person engages or endorses the harassment, intimidation or surveillance of ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø students or staff. This can include the improper reporting of student conduct to Australian-based foreign diplomatic missions, or the inappropriate identification of or sharing of student or staff details (‘doxxing’).Ìý
ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø has an unequivocal commitment to freedom of expression and academic freedom. The conduct associated with foreign government harassment is against Australian values and has no place at ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø.
Human Rights Watch
In June 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a , including the monitoring and threatening of students in Australian universities, both directly by foreign governments and via proxies, such as other students.ÌýÂ
The HRW report focused on students but we know this kind of harassment also affects staff, who can similarly be subject to intimidation and threats in an attempt to limit academic freedom or freedom of speech.
ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Code of Conduct
Regardless of the country of origin, foreign government harassment is against the ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø Code of Conduct and our Values in Action.
Freedom of expression at ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø is no different to freedom of speech across Australia. The only constraints we place on freedom of speech are those that apply to the community under the law.Ìý
Reporting
Students or staff can make a report via the ÁñÁ«¹ÙÍø complaints portal.Ìý
These complaints will be handled in confidence, and can be made anonymously.ÌýThe University respects the wishes of those wanting to remain anonymous. However, please keep in mind the University’s ability to investigate an anonymous complaint may be limited and you will also not be provided the outcome of your complaint.
When making a complaint, where the form states, ‘Please tell us about your issue:’, choose ‘Foreign Government Interference’.
Other resources
- University Foreign Interference Taskforce Guidelines:Â
