Elon Musk Throws Down in Effort to Protect Free Speech in Australia Over 'Global Content Bans'

Elon Musk has put a lot on the line for free speech -- $44 billion to be exact.

Not to mention stepping on the toes of the Biden administration and Democrats by challenging their efforts to control social media and thus earning a lot of investigations in the process. That may put even more on the line for him.

But it hasn't stopped him from speaking out or challenging things he believes are an existential danger, like the suppression of speech on social media. He's even recently blasted the new NPR CEO and said he would be starting a campaign for the First Amendment.

Musk is now fighting an effort from Australia to try to censor posts on X. It came about as a result of posts related to the attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emanuel that authorities have called a terrorist attack. But they're also talking about "misinformation" and disinformation with the same claims about having to "protect" the public.

Here's what the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. His comment is enclosed in the tweet.

Australia's Prime Minister taking time during his presser to advertise for Elon.

"By and large, [other social media] responded appropriately to the calls [for censorship] by the E-Safety Commissioner. X chose not to.
...
We know, I think overwhelmingly, Australians want… pic.twitter.com/RO0SVAcR8d
— ~~datahazard~~ (@fentasyl) April 22, 2024

Here's the pertinent part:

We need to recognise that, and social media has a responsibility. By and large, people responded appropriately to the calls by the E-Safety Commissioner. X chose not to. They stand, I think, I find it extraordinary that X chose not to comply and are trying to argue their case. We know, I think overwhelmingly, Australians want misinformation and disinformation to stop. This isn't about freedom of expression, this is about the dangerous implications that can occur when things that are simply not true, that everyone knows is not true, are replicated and weaponised in order to cause division and in this case, to promote negative statements and potentially to just inflame what was a very difficult situation. And social media has a social responsibility.

Then there was this lovely piece from a Labor politician saying they're cracking down.

There’s no place in social media for harmful and violent content. We’re cracking down. pic.twitter.com/5d59cuqLyG
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) April 22, 2024

Tanya Plibersek hilariously accuses Musk, whom she terms an "egotistical billionaire," of trying to dictate to the Australian government when indeed it appears that it's the Australian government trying to do the "dictating" here and not just to Musk.

X is saying these edicts could then result in global content bans.

While Meta complied with the order, X objected, saying on Friday that some of the posts that were ordered to be removed “publicly commented on the recent attack” but “did not violate X’s rules on violent speech.” The company also said it did not believe the order fell within the scope of Australian law and that the commissioner “does not have the authority to dictate what content X’s users can see globally.”
Despite saying it had complied with the directive, X added it would “robustly challenge this unlawful and dangerous approach in court.” “Global takedown orders go against the very principles of a free and open internet and threaten free speech everywhere,” the company said.

Musk also spoke out decrying the actions.

The Australian censorship commissar is demanding *global* content bans! https://t.co/CRLglUYYIG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 19, 2024

X is saying if they don't comply with globally withholding the posts in question, they can face huge fines of about $500,000 a day.

In a court hearing Monday, the eSafety commissioner was granted a two-day legal injunction to compel X to hide certain posts related to the attack, including violent footage. The commissioner argued that X’s decision to “geoblock” the content—meaning that it would not be accessible to users in Australia—was insufficient to comply with Australian law because geoblocking can be skirted with the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), according to the ABC.
The injunction means that X must hide specific posts from all users worldwide within 24 hours by adding a warning notice to cover posts. Users must not be able to remove the warnings. X can then argue against the injunction Wednesday ahead of a final decision, the ABC reports.

Musk also skewered that statement of the prime minister.

I’d like to take a moment to thank the PM for informing the public that this platform is the only truthful one https://t.co/EM0lF6n7SC
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 22, 2024

Reality can be many things: ugly, beautiful, good, inspiring, bad. But it isn't up to governments to control or tell us what that reality is. It isn't up to governments to determine what "truth" is. Whenever you start hearing them talk about "misinformation" and "disinformation," hold onto your hats because they're about to try to sell you a bunch of malarkey.