Elon Musk strongly criticized Australia’s prime minister after a court ruled that his social media platform X must take down footage of a suspected terrorist attack in Sydney.
Australia’s Federal Court directed X, formerly Twitter, to temporarily hide posts containing video of the incident, where a teenager accused of terrorism allegedly attacked an Assyrian priest and others.
Even though X had already blocked the posts for users in Australia, the country’s e-Safety Commissioner insisted they be removed due to the graphic violence shown.
As the owner of X and known for supporting free speech, Musk used the platform to express his dissatisfaction. He shared a meme suggesting X represented “free speech and truth,” contrasting it with other platforms he called “censorship and propaganda.”
Anthony Albanese (Melina Conway/Shutterstock)
Musk’s posts criticized the court’s decision, questioning the implications of allowing any country to control internet content globally.
The clash between Musk and Australian authorities highlights broader tensions between large tech companies and regulators aiming for more oversight of online content.
X faces legal challenges beyond Australia, including a failed lawsuit in the U.S. against a hate speech monitoring group and a fine from the Australian e-Safety Commissioner for not cooperating in a child abuse investigation.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded firmly to Musk’s comments, asserting the country’s commitment to challenging what he termed the arrogance of billionaires.
Albanese stressed the importance of upholding decency and the law, rejecting Musk’s position on removing court-ordered content.
