Australia drops case against X over church stabbing videos

Australia's internet watchdog has dropped a case against Elon Musk's social media platform X, Electronic Safety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant said on Wednesday.

Australia wanted to force X to remove images of a Sydney church stabbing from the platform. X blocked the posts in Australia pending a legal challenge, before the Federal Court ordered the platform to temporarily hide the video from all users worldwide.

Inman-Grant said in a statement that the Federal Court case has now been dropped.

“Our sole aim and purpose in issuing our removal notice was to prevent these extremely violent images from going viral, potentially inciting further violence and causing further harm to the Australian community. I support my investigators and the decisions made by eSafety,” she said.

“Most Australians accept that this type of graphic material should not be broadcast on television, which raises the obvious question of why it should be allowed to be freely distributed and accessible online 24/7 at everyone, including children.”

The case was seen as a test of Australia's ability to make social media platforms comply with the country's laws.

ESafety remains committed to holding businesses to account “without fear or favour, ensuring they comply with Australian laws and prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all Australians”, Inman-Grant said.

“We will not abandon this commitment.”

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with terrorism after two people were injured in an alleged assault at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney's west on April 15. The church attack came days after six people were killed and dozens more injured. a stabbing in a Sydney shopping center.