Elon Musk calls Australian govt 'fascists' over misinformation law

Australia’s govt introduces legislation to curb online falsehoods, while Musk decries it as an attack on free speech

SYDNEY:

Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, on Friday labelled Australia's centre-left government as "fascists" in response to proposed legislation that would impose fines on social media companies for failing to prevent the spread of online misinformation.

Australia's Labor government introduced the legislation in Parliament on Thursday, which could see internet platforms fined up to 5% of their global revenue if they allow misinformation to proliferate, aligning with a global effort to regulate tech giants.

The proposed law would require tech companies to establish codes of conduct aimed at stopping the spread of dangerous false information, subject to approval by a regulator. If a platform fails to create an acceptable code, the regulator would impose its own standards and fine companies for non-compliance.

Musk, who positions himself as a defender of free speech, responded to a post by an X user linking a Reuters article on the proposed law with a single word: "Fascists."

This is not Musk's first confrontation with the Australian government. In April, X took legal action against a cyber regulator's order to remove certain posts regarding the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to refer to Musk as an "arrogant billionaire."

Musk's recent comment criticising the legislation drew sharp responses from government officials. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones dismissed the remark as "crackpot stuff," stating, "This is about sovereignty, and whether it's the Australian government or any other, we reserve the right to pass laws that ensure the safety of Australians."

Jones added that social media platforms should not hide behind free speech to allow the dissemination of scam content, deepfakes, or livestreamed violence.