Australian Prime Minister Criticizes X For Rejection Of Removing Content Related To The Stabbing Of Bishops

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (photo; x @AlboMP)

JAKARTA - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described it as "extraordinary" on Monday 22 April, over platform X's decision to challenge at the state cyber regulator's order court to remove some shipments about stabbing a bishop in Sydney.

Police have accused a 16-year-old teenager of terrorism in an attack on a Ashure bishop, Mar Mari Emmanuel, last Monday. Online videos show attackers, blocked by the congregation, shouting at bishops for insulting Islam.

Albanese criticized violent images and said some social media content on X exacerbated the pain of many people.

"I feel great that X chooses not to obey and tries to defend their case," Albanese told a news conference. He added that X's response to orders by a government panel contradicts that from other social media providers.

"It's not about freedom of expression," Albanese said. "It's about dangerous implications that can happen when things that just aren't right... are replicated and used as weapons to cause division."

"In this case, the promotion of negative statements has the potential to exacerbate the very difficult situation," he added.

The Australian panel, known as the eSafety Commissioner, is seeking to remove malicious online content. They have ordered X to remove certain shipments that "publicly monitor" the attack.

But X responded that the posts did not violate its rules on violent speeches, adding that regulators do not have the authority to dictate content that users can see globally, an approach they swear to challenge in court because it is considered "illegal and dangerous".

"Australian sensor commissioners are asking for a ban on global content!" said Elon Musk, owner of X.

Several lawmakers have criticized social media for not doing enough to remove misinformation about the stabbing.

Last year, regulators said X had been Australia's top platform for online hate since Musk removed bans on about 62,000 reported accounts.