Melbourne, Australia – Tech billionaire Elon Musk faces accusations of censorship after a court ruling that his social media platform, rebranded as X Corp. in 2023, must block users worldwide from accessing video footage of a bishop being stabbed in a Sydney church. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized Musk as an “arrogant billionaire” who believes he is above the law and out of touch with the public.
X Corp. announced its intention to fight against Australian orders to take down posts related to the knife attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, which occurred during a church service being streamed online. Despite geoblocking the material from Australia, it remained accessible elsewhere. Australia’s eSafety Commission successfully applied for a temporary global ban on sharing the video of the stabbing.
Justice Geoffrey Kennett ordered that the footage be suppressed from all X users until a hearing for a permanent ban on Wednesday. Musk responded by posting a cartoon on his personal X account, highlighting the importance of “free speech” and “truth” over “censorship” and “propaganda.” Albanese condemned Musk’s actions, stating that social media platforms have a responsibility to prioritize common decency and not spread violent content.
The regulator’s lawyer argued in court that geoblocking Australia did not meet the legal definition of removing the footage under Australian law. X’s lawyer, Marcus Hoyne, faced challenges in obtaining instructions from the company in San Francisco due to the time difference. There was ambiguity surrounding X’s compliance with the court order as it did not immediately respond to inquiries.
Albanese emphasized that the dissemination of violent images on social media platforms worsened the impact of recent attacks, including the church stabbing incident and a mall attack that resulted in multiple deaths. X’s Global Government Affairs team alleged that the eSafety Commissioner overstepped her authority by demanding the removal of certain posts, resulting in a significant financial penalty.
The live feed of the church attack and subsequent social media posts incited a riot, leading to injuries of police officers and significant damage to property. Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the riot, and a 16-year-old suspect has been charged with terrorism offenses. The incident has sparked debates about the regulation of violent content online and the responsibility of tech companies to maintain ethical standards.