Sydney: Tech magnate Elon Musk has criticized Australia’s efforts to prohibit the dissemination of footage related to a stabbing incident at a Sydney church on his social media platform, X.
On Monday evening, an Australian court issued a two-day injunction mandating the platform to restrict access to videos of the April 15 stabbing for all users globally.
Musk expressed his concerns on X, stating, “Our concern is that if ANY country is permitted to censor content for ALL countries, as demanded by the Australian ‘eSafety Commissioner,’ it sets a precedent for any country to control the entire Internet.”
He further clarified, “We have already restricted the content in question for Australia, pending legal appeal, and it is stored exclusively on servers in the USA.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to Musk’s remarks during an interview with ABC News Breakfast on Tuesday, labeling Musk as an “arrogant billionaire.”
“We will take the necessary steps to challenge this arrogant billionaire who believes he is above the law and common decency,” Albanese remarked.
He defended the actions of the e-Safety Commissioner, stating, “She is fulfilling her duty to safeguard the interests of Australians. Mr. Musk’s court challenge to post violent content on a platform demonstrates how disconnected he is.”
Albanese emphasized the need for social media platforms to exercise social responsibility. “Mr. Musk is not demonstrating any,” he added.
Previously, X had restricted access to the posts in Australia pending a legal challenge. The case is scheduled to be reviewed in court on Wednesday for a discussion regarding a permanent suppression.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with a terrorism offence in connection with the alleged stabbing at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, western Sydney, on April 15. The church attack occurred shortly after a stabbing incident at a Sydney shopping centre, which resulted in six fatalities and numerous injuries.
