Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticized Billionaire X owner Elon Musk, suggesting he is perpetuating censorship on the platform. This follows a request from Australian regulators to remove videos depicting graphic violence from a stabbing incident at a Sydney church last week.
Musk responded on Twitter, framing X as a platform for free speech and truth while portraying rival platforms as promoting propaganda and censorship. Australian regulators had ordered X to remove posts containing “gratuitous or offensive violence” related to the stabbing or face potential fines.
X claims to have complied with the order but expressed concerns about the global removal request. The platform’s global affairs page argues that such takedown orders violate the principles of a free and open internet and announced its intention to challenge the order in court.
According to The Guardian, X has implemented geo-blocking to prevent Australians from seeing the posts while still allowing them to be viewed globally. Australian barrister for eSafety Christopher Tran labeled this response as non-compliance with the order.
Albanese stated that the issue is not about freedom of expression but about the potential harm caused by the spread of misinformation. Other Australian government officials have criticized Musk’s non-compliance with the order.
Musk’s track record on free speech on X has been mixed, with the platform suspending accounts of rival social media platforms and journalists. However, Musk has identified himself as a “free speech absolutist”.
This incident highlights the ongoing debate between platforms, governments, and users over the balance between free speech and the need to protect users from harmful content.
