Musk’s X wins court reprieve in fight against Australian government over church stabbing videos

Elon Musk’s social media platform X received a respite Monday when an Australian court refused to prolong a temporary injunction to remove videos of a Sydney church stabbing.

According to local media, a federal court judge has dismissed Australia’s online watchdog eSafety Commissioner’s request to prolong an injunction to remove posts on X depicting a violent attack on a priest in April.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed while delivering a livestreamed sermon that received hundreds of thousands of viewers online.

Following the event, the country’s eSafety Commissioner was granted a temporary legal injunction requiring X to remove posts containing footage of the attack.

Musk, a tech billionaire, argued that the earlier court injunction violated free speech.

“Our concern is that if ANY country is allowed to censor content for ALL countries, which is what the Australian ‘eSafety Commissar’ is demanding, then what is to stop any country from controlling the entire Internet?” Musk posted on X.

The event sparked a heated exchange between Musk and the Australian government, which included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In an interview last month, Albanese said Musk believes “he’s above Australian law” and chastised him for his “arrogance.”

“The e-Safety Commissioner has issued a verdict. The other social media platforms agreed without objection. “This is a measure with bipartisan support in this country,” Albanese stated at the time.

“This isn’t about censorship,” he said, but rather “decency,” which Musk should “show some of.”

In response, Musk wrote on X: “I do not believe I am above the law.” Does the Prime Minister believe he should have authority over all of Earth?” Referring to Albanese.

“This platform adheres to the laws of countries in those countries, but it would be improper to extend one country’s rulings to other countries,” he stated.

In a statement released last month, Australia’s online regulator stated that it is difficult to totally delete harmful content online, especially because people continue to repost it.

Nonetheless, online safety “requires platforms to do everything practical and reasonable to minimize the harm it may cause to Australians,” the eSafety Commissioner warned.