Australia drops legal action against X for refusing to remove Sydney stabbing videos worldwide

Australia's online safety regulator has abandoned its legal battle to get X to remove graphic footage of the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney.

The electronic security commissioner said Wednesday he decided to drop the suit after federal judge Geoffrey Kennett denied his request to extend the order allowing X to block videos of the stabbing attack .

“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,” said Electronic Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. .

Four people, including a bishop of an Assyrian church, were stabbed during a church service in Sydney in April.

Ms Grant said the regulator ordered X to remove videos of the attack because they were easily accessible to children.

The commissioner wanted to prevent “extremely violent images from going viral”, fearing they would incite more violence and inflict more damage, she added.

While X said it had blocked posts from its Australian users, the commissioner requested that the videos be removed for everyone.

The social media company refused to do so, saying one country's rules should not control the entire internet.

The commissioner said the company's position was ineffective as multiple users in Australia were able to use virtual private networks to conceal their location and view the footage.

But Twitter owner Elon Musk called it censorship.

The brawl escalated into an online row with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling Mr Musk an “arrogant billionaire”.

“Social media companies need to do the right thing,” Mr. Albanese said. “We are prepared to take whatever action is necessary to bring these businesses into line. »

On Wednesday, Ms Grant said the regulator was ending federal court proceedings against X.

“I have decided to discontinue proceedings in the Federal Court against she declared.

“I support my investigators and the decisions made by eSafety,” Ms Grant said, adding that cost was a key factor in her decision to “consolidate” the commission’s legal action against X.

She added that her action against the social media platform would continue before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

“The real issues that I wish to examine through an independent merit review will be considered at the AAT and it made no sense to me to fight a battle on two fronts when, let's face it, the war is going be much longer and more extensive,” Ms. Grant told ABC News.

Mr. Musk welcomed the decision, posting on X: “Free speech is worth fighting for. »