Elon Musk Calls Australian Government ‘Fascists’ Over New Misinformation Law

Aimee Cherry Quartey
By
Elon Musk Calls Australian Government ‘Fascists’ Over New Misinformation Law
Elon Musk
Written by Leah De-Graft Takyi

Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), stirred up controversy this week by labeling the Australian government as “fascists.” His comment came in response to proposed legislation aimed at cracking down on misinformation spread by social media companies.

On Thursday, Australia’s Labor government introduced a new law that would impose hefty fines on social media platforms if they fail to prevent the spread of false information. Under the proposed legislation, companies could be fined up to 5% of their global revenue for allowing dangerous misinformation to circulate on their sites. This move is part of a global effort to hold tech giants accountable for the content shared on their platforms.

The law would require these companies to create and adhere to codes of conduct designed to stop harmful falsehoods from spreading. If a platform fails to comply, a government regulator would step in to set its own standards and impose fines for non-compliance.

Musk, who  positioned himself as a defender of free speech, reacted to the news by calling the Australian government “fascists” in a post on X. The comment sparked a wave of criticism from Australian lawmakers.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland defended the proposed law, stating that companies operating in Australia must follow Australian laws. “This bill improves the transparency and accountability of platforms for users and the Australian people,” she said in an email.

Critics of Musk’s comment didn’t hold back. Government Services Minister Bill Shorten quipped that Musk has changed his stance on free speech more times than one could count. “When it’s in his commercial interests, he’s the champion of free speech, but when he doesn’t like something, he wants to shut it all down,” Shorten said during an interview.

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones also weighed in, emphasizing that social media platforms should not be allowed to publish harmful content, such as scams or violent material, all in the name of free speech.

This isn’t the first time Musk has clashed with the Australian government. Earlier this year, X went to court to challenge a government order to remove posts related to a violent incident in Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese referred to Musk as an “arrogant billionaire” during that dispute. Eventually, the regulator dropped its case against X after facing setbacks in court.

Musk’s latest comments have reignited the debate over the responsibilities of social media companies in controlling the information shared on their platforms, highlighting the ongoing struggle between free speech and public safety. As the conversation continues, it’s clear that the issue of misinformation is far from resolved.

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