Elon Musk Calls Australian Gov't ‘Fascists’ Over Social Media Misinformation Laws
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Elon Musk has labeled the Australian government "fascists" in response to new legislation targeting the spread of misinformation on social media, sparking a debate over free speech and platform accountability.
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), reacted to Australia's proposed laws on misinformation with a single word: "Fascists."
The legislation could see social media companies fined up to 5% of their annual turnover for failing to curb false information.
Bill Shorten, Australia’s federal minister, criticized Musk’s stance, saying, “When it’s in his commercial interests, he is the champion of free speech; when he doesn’t like it, he’s going to shut it all down,” during an appearance on Channel Nine’s breakfast show.
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones called Musk’s remark "crackpot stuff," emphasizing that the government’s bill is about national sovereignty.
“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 – safe from scammers, safe from criminals,” Jones said on ABC TV.
He questioned Musk’s interpretation of free speech, asking, “Is this what he thinks free speech is all about?”
Aged care minister Anika Wells also addressed the issue, telling ABC radio she had “yet to meet [a fascist] in the government.”
Australia's proposed legislation would empower the communications watchdog to monitor content on digital platforms, with the option to enforce a code of conduct or introduce industry standards if self-regulation fails.
Musk’s clash with Australian authorities isn’t new. In April, X was ordered to remove graphic content after a video of Sydney bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being stabbed was left online. During that dispute, Musk accused the government of suppressing free speech.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded, calling Musk an “arrogant billionaire.” A court decision on a $610,500 fine imposed on X last year is pending, with X arguing that the fine was issued to Twitter Inc., a company that no longer exists.
Meanwhile, X is also embroiled in a dispute with Brazil’s top court, after millions of users were cut off from the platform due to the company’s refusal to remove anti-democratic content following the January 2023 riots in Brasília led by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.