X to contest Australian regulatory order to remove stabbing-related posts
X has announced its intention to legally challenge an order issued by an Australian regulatory body. The order, which demands the removal of certain posts related to a recent stabbing incident in Sydney, was publicly contested by X's Global Government Affairs body on Saturday. The incident in question involves a 16-year-old boy facing terrorism charges for allegedly attacking Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a church in the New South Wales capital on Monday.
Withhold posts or face a daily fine
X's Global Government Affairs has announced that the Australian eSafety Commissioner instructed them to take down those specific posts in Australia. The regulator required the posts to be withheld, threatening a daily fine of A$785,000 ($500,000), the company disclosed.
X challenges eSafety Commissioner's authority
In response to the Australian eSafety Commissioner's order, X stated, "X believes that eSafety's order was not within the scope of Australian law and we complied with the directive pending a legal challenge." The company further argued that the eSafety Commissioner does not have the authority to dictate what content X's users can see globally. "We will robustly challenge this unlawful and dangerous approach in court," X said.
Australian regulator's response to X's legal challenge
When questioned about X's remarks, a spokesperson for the agency referred to an eSafety Commissioner statement affirming their commitment to ensuring X's compliance with Australian law. The regulator is currently assessing whether additional regulatory action is necessary. This government entity, tasked with eradicating harmful online content, had previously issued legal notices in March to several social media platforms including X, seeking details about their strategies to combat terrorism-related content.
