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.
- 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 UNSW 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 UNSW 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 UNSW
At UNSW, 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 UNSW 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’).
UNSW 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 UNSW.
Human Rights Watch
In June 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on foreign government harassment, including the monitoring and threatening of students in Australian universities, both directly by foreign governments and via proxies, such as other students.
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.
UNSW Code of Conduct
Regardless of the country of origin, foreign government harassment is against the UNSW Code of Conduct and our Values in Action.
Freedom of expression at UNSW 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.
Reporting
Students or staff can make a report via the UNSW complaints portal.
These complaints will be handled in confidence, and can be made anonymously. The 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’.
If you ever feel physically threatened, contact UNSW security.
Want to speak up? You’ve got our support.
Other resources
- Human Rights report on foreign government harassment in Australian Universities
- University Foreign Interference Taskforce Guidelines: University Foreign Interference Taskforce Guidelines
