Big Brother Down Under: Is it 1984 Already in Australia?


Author: Andrew Keen December 14, 2025 Duration: 37:31
Podcast episode
Big Brother Down Under: Is it 1984 Already in Australia?

It’s been quite a week in tech. The Australian social media ban, the Netflix vs Paramount fight over Warner Bros & the Disney-OpenAI deal. That Was The Week’s Keith Teare and I try to explain all this in the broader context of the future of media in 2026 and beyond. Has Australia really gone Orwellian in its teen social media ban, who should own Warner and will movie theaters & serious journalism have a future in the AI age? Our answers aren’t always what you’d expect.



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