eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has dropped her Federal Court case against X Corp, which aimed to force the platform to remove a video of a Sydney bishop being stabbed. However, she will continue her legal action in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal against the platform. The case before the tribunal was brought by X and was running parallel to the Federal Court case. Inman Grant cited cost as a factor in her decision to consolidate the legal action against X.
Inman Grant revealed that her legal action against X had led to online attacks against her and her family, including the release of personal information without permission, known as doxxing. She blamed billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who recently bought Twitter, for these attacks. Musk welcomed the decision to drop the Federal Court case, emphasizing the importance of freedom of speech. Inman Grant criticized Musk for his behavior, stating that he had encouraged threats and doxxing against her and her family.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland supported Inman Grant’s decision to take X to the Federal Court and her subsequent decision to drop the case. Rowland emphasized the need to back regulators in the face of threats and attacks against them. X was the only social media platform that refused to comply with eSafety’s order to remove the video of the stabbing incident. While other platforms like Meta, Microsoft, Google, and TikTok complied, X only geoblocked Australian users. The commission sought a global ban on the video being shared.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized Musk, labeling him as an arrogant billionaire who considered himself above the law. In a court decision on May 13, the judge withdrew an injunction that required X to hide the content globally, deeming it an unreasonable request. X expressed relief that freedom of speech had prevailed in this case. Inman Grant mentioned that her commission had multiple legal cases against X, including issues regarding the platform’s handling of child sexual abuse material.
Overall, the legal battle between eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant and X Corp, now under new ownership by Elon Musk, highlights the complex dynamics between online safety, freedom of speech, and regulatory responsibilities. The decision to drop the Federal Court case and focus on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal reflects a strategic approach to dealing with challenges in enforcing online safety standards. The role of regulators in protecting citizens from online threats and attacks should be supported and respected, as emphasized by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. The debate around global censorship and the balance between freedom of speech and content moderation continues to be a pressing issue for online platforms, regulators, and society as a whole.
