Elon Musk Slams Australian Government as 'Fascists' Over New Social Media Misinformation Law

Elon Musk criticized Australia's government, labeling it fascist for proposing fines on social media firms. The legislation aims to enhance accountability.

Musk’s Criticism of Australia's Social Media Legislation

Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, on Friday called Australia's centre-left government "fascists" over proposed legislation to slap fines on social media firms for failing to prevent the spread of misinformation online.

Details of the Proposed Legislation

Australia's Labor government unveiled legislation that could fine internet platforms up to 5% of their global revenue for enabling misinformation. The proposed law would require tech platforms to set codes of conduct to stop dangerous falsehoods from spreading and be approved by a regulator. The regulator would impose its own standard if a platform failed to comply and fine firms for non-compliance.

Musk’s Reaction and Government Response

Musk, who views himself as a champion of free speech, responded to a post by an X user linking the Reuters story about the misinformation law with one word: "Fascists". A spokesperson for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland stated that companies operating in Australia must comply with Australian laws.

Criticism from Australian Lawmakers

Musk's comment drew criticism and ridicule from other government lawmakers. Government Services Minister Bill Shorten criticized Musk's stance on free speech, suggesting inconsistency in his positions. Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones emphasized that social media platforms should not publish harmful content in the name of free speech.

Previous Clashes Between X and the Australian Government

In a previous clash with the Australian government, X challenged a cyber regulator's order to remove posts about a stabbing in Sydney, leading Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call Musk an "arrogant billionaire." The regulator eventually dropped its challenge against X after a setback in federal court. X had blocked Australian users from viewing the posts but refused to remove them globally.