Musk Labels Australian Government ‘Fascists’ Over Misinformation Law, According to Reuters

By Renju Jose

SYDNEY – Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, labeled Australia’s center-left government as "fascists" over new proposed legislation aimed at imposing fines on social media companies that fail to curb the dissemination of misinformation.

On Thursday, Australia’s Labor government introduced legislation that could penalize internet companies up to 5% of their global revenue for allowing misinformation to proliferate, part of a broader global effort to rein in major tech firms.

The proposed law would require these companies to establish codes of conduct to prevent the spread of hazardous falsehoods, which must be approved by a regulatory body. If a platform does not comply, the regulator could set its own standards and impose fines for non-compliance.

Musk, who portrays himself as a proponent of free speech, reacted to a user’s post referencing the news about the misinformation law with the single word: "Fascists."

A spokesperson for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasized that businesses operating in Australia must adhere to Australian laws. Rowland stated, "This bill improves the transparency and accountability of platforms for users and the Australian people."

Musk’s remarks sparked criticism from lawmakers within the government. Government Services Minister Bill Shorten remarked on a morning show, "Elon Musk has had more positions on free speech than the Kama Sutra. When it’s in his commercial interests, he champions free speech, but if he disagrees, he shuts it all down."

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones asserted that social media platforms should not host scam content or deepfake materials, nor should they broadcast live violence under the pretext of free speech.

Earlier in April, X engaged in a legal battle with the Australian government, contesting a regulator’s order to remove posts about the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to brand Musk an "arrogant billionaire."

The regulatory challenge against X was later dropped following a setback in federal court. While X blocked Australian users from accessing certain posts related to the stabbing, it refused to delete them globally, arguing that one country’s laws should not dictate internet governance.