The Federal Court of Australia mandated that Elon Musk’s content be hidden from users.
X, along with Mehta, was instructed by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant to promptly remove any material depicting “unreasonable or offensive violence with serious consequences or details” within 24 hours or risk facing fines.
The content in question was a video allegedly showing Bishop Mar Mari Emanuel being stabbed to death during a livestreamed service at the Assyrian Church of the Good Shepherd in Wakely.
Although X claimed compliance with the request, they intended to challenge the order in court.
During a hearing, eSafety barrister Christopher Tran informed Judge Jeffrey Kennett that X had geographically restricted access to the posts containing the video, rendering them inaccessible in Australia but available globally through VPN connections.
Tran argued that this noncompliance with online safety laws necessitated the removal of the content globally as an interim step.
X’s legal representative, Marcus Hoyne, requested an adjournment, citing the late hour in San Francisco where X is based and lack of instructions from his client.
Judge Kennett proposed issuing an interim order until the next hearing, requiring the post’s removal and global access blockage until a specified date and time.
Treasurer Stephen Jones criticized X as a “factory of trolls and misinformation” and affirmed the government’s readiness to combat legal challenges from the company.
The eSafety Commissioner clarified that the notice solely concerned the video footage and not any commentary surrounding the incident.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the harmful impact of violent content on social media and condemned X for noncompliance with the removal order.
Meta purportedly followed the directive, while X accused the regulator of “global censorship” and announced intentions to challenge the order in court.
Treasurer Jones vowed to challenge X’s stance, emphasizing the need for online platforms to adhere to laws and maintain safety.
Regulators collaborated with various companies, including Google, Microsoft, Snap, and TikTok, to remove the contentious content.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton voiced support for eSafety’s actions and criticized X for considering itself above the law.
Green Party spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young called upon Elon Musk to address the issue in parliament and urged tech companies to act responsibly.
This confrontation is the latest in the ongoing dispute between X and the eSafety Commissioner, which includes legal battles over compliance with safety regulations.
X faced legal action for allegedly bullying a trans man on Twitter, prompting the company to block access to the content in Australia, while filing a lawsuit challenging the decision.
Queries for comments from X remain unanswered.
Source: www.theguardian.com
