13-9-2024 (CANBERRA) Elon Musk, the influential owner of social media platform X, has ignited controversy by branding the Australian government as “fascists” in response to proposed legislation aimed at curbing the spread of misinformation online. The contentious remarks come as Australia’s centre-left Labor government introduces a bill that could impose hefty fines on social media companies failing to prevent the dissemination of dangerous falsehoods.
The proposed law, unveiled in Parliament on Thursday, would empower regulators to fine internet platforms up to 5% of their global revenue for enabling misinformation. This move aligns Australia with a growing global effort to regulate the activities of borderless tech giants.
Under the proposed legislation, tech platforms would be required to establish codes of conduct to stem the spread of dangerous falsehoods, subject to approval by a regulatory body. Should a platform fail to meet these standards, the regulator would be authorised to impose its own guidelines and levy fines for non-compliance.
Musk, who has long positioned himself as a staunch advocate of free speech, responded to a social media post linking to a news article about the misinformation law with a single, inflammatory word: “Fascists”.
This is not the first time Musk has clashed with the Australian government. In April, X (formerly Twitter) took legal action to challenge a cyber regulator’s order to remove posts related to the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney. The incident prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to label Musk an “arrogant billionaire”.
Musk’s latest critique of the anti-misinformation initiative has drawn sharp rebukes from government lawmakers. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones dismissed Musk’s comment as “crackpot stuff”, emphasising the importance of national sovereignty in legislating for public safety.
“This is about sovereignty, and 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,” Jones stated in an interview with ABC television.
The Assistant Treasurer further argued that social media platforms should not be allowed to publish scam content, deepfake materials, or livestream violence under the guise of free speech.
