Tech magnate Elon Musk has compared the Australian government to “fascists” and criticised proposed laws that would fine social media giants for failing to curb the spread of misinformation.
Australia on Thursday introduced a bill to combat disinformation that includes sweeping powers to fine tech giants up to 5 percent of their annual turnover if they breach online safety obligations.
“Fascists,” Musk wrote in a one-word response on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter, which he owns.
Musk’s salvo threatened to revive his long-running dispute with the Australian government.
The country’s online watchdog took Musk’s company to court earlier this year after it said the company failed to remove “extremely violent” videos showing a pastor being stabbed in Sydney.
But the company abruptly abandoned its attempt to secure a global takedown order against X after Musk secured a legal victory in a preliminary hearing, a move Musk hailed as a victory for free speech.
Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner and a former Twitter employee, said Musk’s takeover coincided with a rise in “toxicity and hate” on the platform.
Musk also ran afoul in Brazil, where a judge effectively suspended X after the company ignored a series of court guidelines.
Australia is leading the global effort to regulate social media platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans earlier this week to ban children from social media until they are 14.
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