 "'Fascists': Elon Musk slams Australian govt as it mulls to regulate online misinformation")
Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed the Australian government and described PM Anthony Albanese’s administration as “fascists” over new legislation that aims to tackle “deliberate lies spread on social media.” The Australian government pushed for legislation in which if any social media company is found guilty of spreading misinformation, it could be fined up to 5 per cent of its annual turnover.
Musk, who owns X, formerly known as Twitter, responded to the Australian government’s proposal with just one word. “Fascists,” he wrote. It is pertinent to note that X has been notorious for spreading misinformation. Recently, both Musk and his social networking site were accused of spreading false information which eventually “instigated” riots in the United Kingdom.
Fascists https://t.co/NQcR9justJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 12, 2024
Musk’s comment was not well received in Australia, The assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones told ABC TV that the billionaire’s remarks were “crackpot stuff”. Jones insisted that the government’s new bill on misinformation and disinformation was a matter of “sovereignty”.
“Whether it’s the Australian government or any other government around the world, we assert our right to pass laws which will keep Australians safe – safe from scammers, safe from criminals,” he said.
“For the life of me, I can’t see how Elon Musk or anyone else, in the name of free speech, thinks it is OK to have social media platforms publishing scam content, which is robbing Australians of billions of dollars every year. Publishing deepfake material, publishing child pornography. Livestreaming murder scenes. I mean, is this what he thinks free speech is all about?” he furthered.
About the proposed legislation
Meanwhile, Australia’s federal aged care minister, Anika Wells, told ABC Radio she had “yet to meet [a fascist] in the government”. It is pertinent to note that Australia’s misinformation legislation would give the communication watchdog, operating in the country, the power to monitor and regulate content on digital platforms.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIf self-regulation is deemed to be a failure, the authorities could approve an enforceable industry code of conduct or introduce standards for social media companies. Interestingly, this is not the first time Musk sparred with the Australian government over this issue.
Back in April, the eSafety commissioner issued an edict to X to remove graphic content after clips of the Sydney bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being stabbed circulated on the platform. At that time Musk accused the Australian government of suppressing free speech.
Albanese responded to the remarks by calling Musk an “arrogant billionaire”. Last month, eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant told ABC that X had seven ongoing legal matters with her office related to notices issued by the commissioner.
With inputs from agencies.
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