Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leaders criticized Elon Musk and his social media platform X for refusing to comply with a government order to remove posts and videos related to a recent knife attack on a church bishop. X’s Global Government Affairs team refused to take down the violent and offensive content, arguing that it did not violate X’s rules on violent speech. The government argued that the issue was not about freedom of expression but about dangerous misinformation that could be weaponized.
Albanese called X’s decision not to comply with the order “extraordinary” and accused the company of trying to argue their case. Musk targeted the country’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant on X, calling her the “Australian censorship commissar” and accusing her agency of demanding global content bans. Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek criticized Musk as an “egotistical billionaire” who prioritizes showing whatever he wants on X over respecting the victims of crimes. The leader of the country’s opposition coalition, Peter Dutton, also denounced social media companies for acting above the law and supported legislation to crack down on misinformation.
Australian Agriculture Minister Murray Watt expressed frustration with “narcissistic billionaires who think they are above the law” and called on social media platforms to fulfill their social responsibility to consumers. X faces a $505,000 (A$785,000) fine every day for refusing to comply with the eSafety commissioner’s orders. The recent knife attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at an Assyrian church in Sydney was declared a terrorist incident by authorities, with the 16-year-old suspect attacker taken into custody. The attack was live-streamed by the church and the eSafety Commissioner ordered social media platforms to remove the footage.
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the responsibility of social media platforms like X in controlling the spread of dangerous misinformation and graphic content. The standoff between the Australian government and X raises questions about global regulation of online platforms and the balance between freedom of expression and public safety. The government’s criticism of Musk’s actions and his response on social media reflect broader concerns about the influence and power of tech billionaires in shaping public discourse.
The government’s support for cracking down on misinformation and holding social media companies accountable for content on their platforms reflects a growing push for regulation in the digital space. The refusal of X to comply with the eSafety commissioner’s orders and the resulting fines indicate the challenges that governments face in enforcing rules on global tech companies. The ongoing debate underscores the importance of addressing the role of social media platforms in disseminating harmful content and the need for a coordinated approach to tackling misinformation and ensuring public safety in the digital age.
