Australia Demands X Remove Sydney Stabbing Video Worldwide

Australia's eSafety Commission is taking a stand against harmful content on social media! They've officially asked the platform X to remove video posts showing a harrowing stabbing incident that took place in Sydney.

The Commission highlighted that X only geoblocked the disturbing footage within Australia, meaning it’s still accessible globally through virtual private networks (VPNs). Tim Begbie, representing the Commission, emphasized the need for X to take down the videos entirely, stating that relying solely on regional blocks isn’t enough to protect the public.

Despite having policies that allow for global content removal, X has decided not to implement them in this case. Begbie argued that global removal is not only reasonable but also necessary under Australia's Online Safety Act, which aims to shield the public from illegal and harmful material.

The incident in question involved Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who was attacked by a 16-year-old suspect during a service on April 15. Thankfully, Bishop Emmanuel has since recovered and has supported the video's removal.

On the flip side, X's lawyer, Bret Walker, contended that restricting access in Australia was sufficient and that more scrutiny is needed to determine if the stabbing video truly meets the criteria for removal. He compared it to war movies, questioning whether all violent content should be taken down automatically.

Judge Geoffrey Kennett has extended the court order, requiring X to block the attack videos until next week, when a decision on the global removal request is expected. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, owner of X, maintains that enforcing a global ban exceeds the authority of the eSafety Commission.

This case highlights the ongoing battle between social media platforms and regulatory bodies to manage and control harmful content online. Stay tuned as this story unfolds!

Reference(s):

Australian watchdog demands X take down video worldwide

cgtn.com