In an escalating dispute over X’s hesitancy to remove footage of a church stabbing, Australia’s leader has referred to Elon Musk as an “arrogant billionaire.”
On Monday, an Australian court issued an order for Mr. Musk’s social media company, formerly known as Twitter, to conceal videos of last week’s Sydney attack. X had previously stated its intention to comply “pending a legal challenge.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s criticism ensued after Mr. Musk employed a meme to accuse the government of censorship. Speaking to ABC News on Tuesday, Mr. Albanese remarked that Mr. Musk “believes he’s beyond the law and lacks common decency.”
Last week, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, an independent regulatory body, warned X and other social media platforms of substantial fines unless they removed videos of the stabbing at the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd church, which authorities have deemed a terrorist incident.
X has contended that the order falls “outside the purview of Australian law.” The commissioner pursued a court injunction after asserting that X was enabling users outside Australia to continue accessing the footage.
“I find it extraordinary that X chose not to comply and are trying to argue their case,” Mr Albanese told a press briefing.
In a subsequent series of online posts, Mr Musk wrote: “I’d like to take a moment to thank the PM for informing the public that this platform is the only truthful one.” Another depicted a Wizard of Oz-style path to “freedom” leading to an X logo.
Earlier, he also criticised eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant personally, describing her as the “Australian censorship commissar”.
Mr Albanese defended Ms Inman Grant, saying she was protecting Australians.
“Social media needs to have social responsibility with it. Mr Musk is not showing any,” he said.
The platform has been given a 24-hour window to adhere to Monday evening’s injunction, with an additional hearing anticipated in the forthcoming days to address the issue further.
X and the eSafety Commissioner are currently engaged in legal proceedings concerning the platform’s purported failure to furnish details on its methods for tracking and eliminating online child abuse material.