Social Media Platform X Declares Legal Challenge Against Australian Regulator's Order

On Saturday, social media platform X announced its intention to contest an order issued by the Australian eSafety Commissioner. The order required X to remove specific posts related to the recent stabbing of a bishop in Sydney, Australia.

The incident in question occurred on Monday at a church in New South Wales, resulting in the arrest of a 16-year-old boy on terrorism charges. The boy allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, and footage from the scene captured him yelling accusations of Islam being insulted.

eSafety Commissioner's Order and X's Response

According to X, the regulator issued an order demanding the removal of certain posts that commented on the attack in Australia. The company was given the option of complying or facing a daily fine of approximately $500,000. X did not disclose the specifics of the posts being targeted.

In response, X expressed its belief that the order exceeded the scope of Australian law and noted that it had temporarily complied pending a legal challenge. The company asserted that the eSafety Commissioner lacks the authority to dictate content visibility for X's users worldwide.

X's statement declared that it would "robustly challenge" the regulator's actions in court, characterizing them as "unlawful and dangerous."

eSafety Commissioner's Statement

In response to X's announcement, an agency spokesperson cited the eSafety Commissioner's statement, which indicated efforts to ensure X's compliance with Australian law. Additionally, the regulator stated that it was considering the need for further regulatory measures.

Background

Earlier this year, the eSafety Commissioner, a government organization dedicated to removing harmful content from online platforms, sent legal requests to social media platforms, including X, seeking information regarding their efforts to eradicate terrorism-related content.