Australia’s eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has decided to drop her legal bid to force Elon Musk’s social media site X to hide a violent video of a church stabbing in Sydney from global users. Inman Grant had initially sought a Federal Court ruling after X failed to fully comply with a takedown order issued under the country’s Online Safety Act following the incident in April. Instead of pursuing the case further in court, Inman Grant will be taking action concerning the removal notice in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), an independent review process that examines decisions taken by the commissioner.
The eSafety commissioner had wanted X to hide the video for users beyond Australian borders, but Musk criticized the request as an excessive overreach by an unelected official that could set a precedent for other countries to demand the removal of sensitive material. X welcomed the decision as a victory for free speech, highlighting the importance of protecting freedom of speech amidst legal battles that could lead to global censorship of speech. Joanne Gray, a lecturer in digital cultures at the University of Sydney, emphasized the need for a global approach to online regulation, suggesting that acting alone may not be effective in addressing online content jurisdiction.
The controversial video showed the moment Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed by a 16-year-old assailant while delivering a sermon at a church in Sydney, sparking a riot outside the church. X argued in court filings that they had taken down some URLs seen by an Australian audience, but the video was still readily available on other sites. Musk’s lawyers also noted that the bishop supported the distribution of the video as an exercise in free speech, emphasizing the importance of considering all relevant aspects when making legal decisions. Inman Grant defended her pursuit of the matter, stating that the goal was to prevent the violent footage from going viral and potentially inciting further violence.
Inman Grant revealed that she had been subject to personal attacks, including death threats, from Musk’s supporters, highlighting the challenges faced by regulators in their efforts to protect citizens from online harm. X, previously Twitter, has been under scrutiny for the spread of controversial content on the platform, including hateful speech and conspiracy theories, since Musk took over in 2022. The platform recently appointed a new head of safety, indicating ongoing efforts to address safety concerns and responsibly manage the content shared on the platform. The decision to drop the legal case against X raises questions about the jurisdiction of online content and the balance between free speech and regulatory measures.
