Billionaire X owner Elon Musk has criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accusing him of censorship on the platform in response to requests from regulators to remove videos of a stabbing at a Sydney church. Musk’s tweet portrays X as a defender of free speech and truth, contrasting it with other social media platforms that he accuses of spreading propaganda and engaging in censorship. This tweet is the latest development in an ongoing dispute between Musk and Australian regulators that began last week when X was ordered to remove posts about the stabbing or potentially face fines.
Following the request from Australian eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant to remove posts containing graphic violence related to the stabbing, X complied but objected to the global nature of the request. The platform argued that being asked to remove posts globally goes against the principles of a free and open internet. X announced that it would challenge Australia’s order in court, leading to geo-blocking of the posts so that they cannot be viewed by Australians but can still be seen by users worldwide. Australian barrister for eSafety, Christopher Tran, criticized this limited geo-blocking, stating that X was not fully complying with the order.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has emphasized that the conflict with X is not about freedom of expression but about preventing the spread of falsities that can have dangerous implications. Albanese’s comments come in the midst of criticism from other members of the Australian government, with Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek calling Musk an egotistical billionaire and accusing him of prioritizing his own interests over respecting the victims of crimes. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt also criticized Musk, stating that the public is tired of billionaires who think they are above the law.
Musk, who has described himself as a “free speech absolutist,” has faced backlash over X’s actions regarding censorship since acquiring the platform. Shortly after the acquisition, X suspended accounts belonging to rival social media platform Mastodon and journalists who reported on the platform’s management. More recently, X suspended accounts of additional journalists, leading to further criticism that Musk is silencing critics through his ownership of the platform. Despite these controversies, Musk remains a vocal advocate for free speech and has positioned X as a platform that champions truth and open dialogue.
As the conflict between X, Elon Musk, and Australian regulators continues, it raises important questions about the balance between free speech and the prevention of harmful content on social media platforms. The actions taken by X in response to the Australian regulator’s requests have sparked a debate about the role of billionaires in influencing public discourse and the responsibilities that come with owning a platform with widespread reach. As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Musk and X navigate this controversy and address concerns about censorship and the spread of false information.
