X Vows to Strongly Contest Australia’s Order to Remove Stabbing Posts

Social media platform X is gearing up for a legal battle in Australia after being ordered by the eSafety Commissioner to remove certain posts related to the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney. The incident, which took place at a church in the New South Wales capital, involved a 16-year-old boy who was charged with a terrorism offense for allegedly stabbing Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.

Footage from the scene showed the boy being restrained by the congregation and shouting accusations that Emmanuel had insulted Islam. In response to the eSafety Commissioner’s order, X’s Global Government Affairs posted on Saturday that they believe the directive was not within the scope of Australian law and have decided to challenge it in court.

The regulator demanded that X “withhold” the posts or face a hefty daily fine of A$785,000 ($500,000). X has stated that they will robustly challenge what they see as an “unlawful and dangerous approach” by the eSafety Commissioner.

The bearded Emmanuel, who is the bishop at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church, is known for his fiery criticisms of various topics including homosexuality, COVID vaccinations, Islam, and U.S. President Joe Biden’s election. The eSafety Commissioner, a government body tasked with removing harmful online content, has been working to ensure X’s compliance with Australian law.

As the legal battle unfolds, the global implications of this case could have far-reaching consequences for social media platforms and their ability to regulate content across different jurisdictions.