Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized tech billionaire Elon Musk, accusing him of prioritizing ego over common sense after Musk accused the country of censorship.
In an interview with “First Edition,” Albanese described Musk’s actions as choosing ego and confrontation over reason. He expressed disbelief that Musk, as a billionaire, would fight for the right to distribute distressing and divisive content, which Albanese believes Australians would find troubling.
Musk, the owner of the social platform X, accused Australia of censorship after an Australian judge ruled that X must globally block users from accessing video of a church stabbing incident in Sydney.
The material, blocked in Australia, remained accessible elsewhere. The incident led to a riot against police, resulting in numerous injuries and property damage.
Albanese emphasized Musk’s responsibility as a social media platform owner, citing suggestions from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. He criticized Musk’s disregard for Australian law and common decency, stating that Musk is out of touch with public sentiment.
Regarding the eSafety Commissioner’s directive to X, Albanese supported the decision, stressing that no one, including Musk, is above the law. He called on Musk to comply with the ruling, highlighting the importance of doing the right thing for the community.