On Thursday, Australia's Labor government introduced a bill that could penalize internet platforms with fines of up to 5% of their global revenue for facilitating misinformation, aligning with a global initiative to regulate powerful tech corporations.
The legislation mandates that technology platforms establish codes of conduct to prevent the dissemination of harmful falsehoods, which must receive approval from a regulatory body. Should a platform fail to comply, the regulator will set its own standards and impose fines for non-adherence.
Musk, who positions himself as a defender of free speech, reacted to an X user's post linking to a Reuters article about the misinformation legislation with a single word: "Fascists." A spokesperson for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland stated via email that companies operating in Australia are required to adhere to Australian laws.
"This bill enhances the transparency and accountability of platforms for users and the Australian public," Rowland remarked.
Musk's remarks regarding the government's efforts to combat misinformation have faced backlash and mockery from other lawmakers.
Bill Shorten, the Government Services Minister, remarked on Channel Nine's breakfast program that Elon Musk has exhibited more varying stances on free speech than the Kama Sutra. He noted that Musk advocates for free speech when it aligns with his commercial interests, but when he disapproves of certain content, he is quick to suppress it.
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones emphasized on ABC television that social media platforms should refrain from disseminating scam content, deepfake materials, and live-streamed violence under the guise of free speech.
In a prior confrontation with the Australian government, X took legal action in April against a cyber regulator's directive to remove posts related to the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney, which led Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to label Musk as an "arrogant billionaire."
Ultimately, the regulator withdrew its challenge against X following a setback in federal court. Although X restricted Australian users from accessing the posts about the stabbing, it declined to delete them globally, arguing that one nation's regulations should not dictate the internet's governance.