Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, has criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for requesting the removal of videos depicting graphic violence from a stabbing incident at a Sydney church.
Last week, Australian eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant ordered X to remove posts about the stabbing that contained “gratuitous or offensive violence with a high degree of impact or detail,” or face potential fines.
X complied with the order but disputed the request to remove the posts on a global scale, claiming it would violate the principles of a free and open internet. The platform has since geo-blocked the posts so they are no longer visible to Australian users but remain accessible globally.
Musk took to Twitter to express his opposition to the order, stating that X is a platform for free speech and truth, while other social media platforms promote propaganda and censorship. He also accused Albanese of perpetuating censorship.
Albanese responded at a press conference, asserting that the conflict is not about freedom of expression but about the dangerous consequences of spreading false information.
Musk’s criticism has drawn mixed reactions, with some supporting his stance on free speech and others criticizing X’s handling of sensitive content. The incident highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between freedom of speech and the need to regulate harmful content online.
