Australia Demands Global Takedown of Violent Video on X, Sparking Debate About Free Speech Online

MediaNama— X had already withheld access to the videos for Australian users, but the eSafety Commissioner wanted X to take down the videos for its global user base as well, citing 'Class 1' content.

The Spectator Australia—Australia’s global advocacy for the suppression of free speech. The Australian government has recently announced its plan to rejuvenate its contentious ‘misinformation and disinformation’ legislation, which had been shelved…What to read next: Labor’s misinformation bill: an egregious attack on free speech | Australia needs to assess security relations with Turkey | Australia does not need a policeman for a police state | Australia’s e-Safety Karen

Quillette—Stifling Free Speech Online: Australia’s Misinformation Bill. Every censorship regime in history has claimed to be protecting the public. But no regime can have prior knowledge of what is true or good. It can only know what the approved narratives are.

MSNBC—Elon Musk defies Australia’s order to remove a violent video from X. Elon Musk is in a row with the Australian government after its online safety regulator called for a video of an Assyrian bishop being stabbed at a Sydney church to be removed from X, his social media platform. The video shows Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being stabbed during a church service that was being livestreamed on April 15. The nonfatal attack, which authorities said was a terrorist act motivated by suspected religious extremism, led to rioting outside the church. Australia’s eSafety...