In a fiery exchange escalating tensions between Australian authorities and tech mogul Elon Musk, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has branded Musk as an “arrogant billionaire.” The dispute centers around Musk’s social media firm’s reluctance to remove footage of a recent church stabbing in Sydney.
The conflict reached new heights on Monday when an Australian court ordered Musk’s social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, to conceal videos of the attack. Despite the court order, Musk’s company, referred to as X, has hesitated, citing a pending legal challenge.
Prime Minister Albanese’s criticism of Musk intensified following the tech titan’s use of a meme to accuse the Australian government of censorship. In a statement to ABC News on Tuesday, Albanese condemned Musk, asserting that he perceives himself as above both the law and common decency.
The dispute began last week when Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, an independent regulatory body, threatened X and other social media giants with substantial fines if they failed to remove videos of the stabbing incident at the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd church, which authorities labeled as a terror attack.
X has argued that the court order exceeds the scope of Australian law, prompting the eSafety Commissioner to seek a court injunction. Albanese expressed astonishment at X’s refusal to comply, labeling their actions as extraordinary.
In a series of online posts, Musk took aim at the Prime Minister, thanking him for acknowledging his platform as the “only truthful one” and depicting a Wizard of Oz-themed image suggesting X as a path to freedom.
Albanese defended the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, stating that she was safeguarding Australians’ interests. He emphasized the need for social media platforms to uphold social responsibility, which he believes Musk’s company is failing to do.
The court has granted X 24 hours to comply with the injunction, with further legal proceedings anticipated in the near future. This dispute adds to existing legal battles between X and the eSafety Commissioner concerning the platform’s handling of child abuse material online.
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