The battle between Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) and Australian authorities over the removal of a video showing a bishop being stabbed during a sermon in Sydney has reached a crucial point. The e-Safety Commissioner has ordered X to take down 65 posts containing the disturbing footage, citing the need to protect citizens from harmful content.
However, X has refused to comply with the global removal of the posts, arguing that one country’s laws should not dictate what can be viewed on the internet worldwide. This stance has sparked a legal showdown in Australia’s Federal Court, with lawyers for the cyber regulator emphasizing the importance of upholding Australian law in such matters.
The lawyer representing the regulator pointed out that while X has policies to remove harmful content, it should not be allowed to override the laws of Australia. He argued that geoblocking Australians from viewing the posts was ineffective due to the widespread use of virtual private networks.
The dispute is not just about free speech, but also about the practicality of enforcing online safety regulations. The lawyer stressed that global removal of the content would align with the intent of the Online Safety Act to prevent access to objectionable material by end users in Australia.
As the one-day hearing continues, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the regulation of online content and the balance between free speech and protecting citizens from harmful material. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.