On Saturday, X, led by Elon Musk, announced its intention to challenge an Australian watchdog’s directive to remove content related to the recent stabbing of a priest during a live-streamed church service in Sydney.
The incident involved Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being attacked by a 16-year-old, leading to unrest among followers of the Assyrian Christian church in western Sydney.
Despite sustaining injuries, the bishop has expressed forgiveness towards the assailant while recuperating in the hospital.
The dissemination of a video capturing the violent attack on social media has been identified by Australian authorities as a factor exacerbating community tensions.
X’s government affairs department initially complied with the eSafety directive to remove specific posts in Australia relating to the attack but later resisted a request to remove them globally.
Facing the threat of a significant daily fine for non-compliance, X, echoed by Musk, criticized the eSafety commissioner’s attempt to impose global content bans, deeming it unlawful and hazardous.
‘Shocked’ Response
Contrary to the watchdog’s claims, X maintained that the posts did not violate its own policies on violent speech.
The eSafety watchdog, however, emphasized the importance of X’s adherence to Australian law and hinted at potential regulatory actions if needed.
Expressing disappointment over prolonged proceedings, the authority stressed the need for prioritizing community safety in Australia.
In response to the controversy, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns criticized certain social media platforms for their role in circulating violent content and called for stricter regulations to address such issues.
Minns emphasized the urgency of taking concrete actions to prevent the dissemination of harmful content and misinformation within communities.
As tensions escalate between X and Australian regulatory authorities, the situation underscores the ongoing challenges in balancing freedom of expression with public safety concerns.