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Musk’s X Says Australia Social Media Ban Crackdown Undermines International Law
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Culture & Society

Musk’s X Says Australia Social Media Ban Crackdown Undermines International Law

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Elon Musk's X platform accuses Australia of undermining international law with its social media ban enforcement.
  • X argues Australia's proposed changes grant its internet regulator excessive information-gathering powers.
  • Australia's law, enacted in December, aims to ban social media accounts for users under 16.

Elon Musk's social media platform X has strongly criticized Australia's plans to toughen enforcement of its ban on social media use for under-16s. X argues that the proposed measures grant Australia's eSafety Commissioner overly broad information-gathering powers, which it claims undermine U.S. law and international legal principles.

due regard to procedural fairness, privacy, the broader impacts on online services, and Australia's digital economy

— XX's submission to an Australian senate committee outlining its objections to the proposed regulatory changes.

Australia's world-first law, implemented in December, restricts access to social media for individuals under the age of 16. X contends that the proposed changes, which include doubling the maximum fine to A$99 million ($69 million) and expanding the regulator's rights to obtain documents, do not adequately consider procedural fairness, privacy, or the broader impact on online services and Australia's digital economy.

compel any person outside Australia ... to provide information and documents merely because they are 'affiliated' with a company

— XDescribing the problematic information-gathering powers proposed by Australia.

X specifically objects to provisions that could compel individuals outside Australia to provide information simply for being affiliated with a company. The platform described this as being "in clear conflict" with international legal principles and potentially harming "international comity," a term signifying respect for foreign legal systems. A U.S. congressional committee has already summoned the eSafety Commissioner, expressing concerns about potential impacts on American free speech.

in clear conflict

— XCharacterizing the proposed Australian measures in relation to international legal principles.

Musk himself has previously labeled the Australian ban a "backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians." Data indicates that most Australian teenagers under 16 still maintain social media accounts. The eSafety Commissioner has stated that limited powers are hindering potential enforcement lawsuits against platforms, making the regulator dependent on self-reported compliance and facing significant barriers in obtaining documents from third-party age verification providers.

raises potential for a severe impact on international comity

— XExpressing concern about the implications of Australia's proposed actions on international legal relations.
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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