Musk calls Australian government “fascists” over disinformation law

Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, called Australia’s centre-left government “fascists” on Friday (September 13th) over proposed legislation to fine social media firms for failing to prevent the spread of online misinformation.

Australia’s Labor government on Thursday unveiled legislation that could fine internet platforms up to 5 percent of their global revenue for enabling misinformation, joining a global push to rein in borderless tech giants.

The proposed law would require tech platforms to establish codes of conduct to stop the spread of dangerous fakes and be approved by a regulator. The regulator would set its own standard if a platform failed to do so and fine firms for non-compliance.

Musk, who considers himself a champion of free speech, responded to a post by user X linking the Reuters story about the disinformation law with one word: “Fascists.”

A spokeswoman for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said by email that companies operating in Australia must comply with Australian laws.

“This bill improves the transparency and accountability of platforms for users and the Australian people,” Rowland said.

Musk’s comment about cracking down on disinformation drew criticism and ridicule from other government lawmakers.

“Elon Musk has had more positions on free speech than the Kama Sutra. When it’s in his commercial interests he’s the champion of free speech and when it’s not … he’ll shut everything down,” Government Services Minister Bill Shorten told Channel Nine’s breakfast show.

Social media platforms should not publish scam content, deepfake material and live-stream violence in the name of free speech, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones told ABC television.

In an earlier clash with the Australian government, X in April went to court to challenge an order by a cyber regulator to remove posts about the stabbing of a Sydney bishop, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call Musk an “arrogant billionaire.”

The regulator later dropped its challenge against X after a setback in federal court.

X blocked Australian users from seeing posts about the stabbing, but refused to remove them globally on the grounds that one country’s rules should not control the internet.

(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul)

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