Hi everybody and welcome back to the Elon Musk podcast.
Today, we're tackling the controversy surrounding
Twitter's battle with online hate speech.
Following Elon musk's take over now.
Since lifting, the ban, on over 62,000 accounts, Twitter has
become Australia's most complained about platform.
Australia is e-safety. Commissioner is demanding
accountability, resulting in a potential for hundred and
seventy-five thousand dollar daily fine for non-compliance.
And to the nation's Online, safety act in this episode, we
explore the tightrope between freedom of speech and The
crucial need to limit cyber abuse.
Australia's cyber Watchdog. The e-safety commissioner has
issued an official notice to Twitter?
The microblogging platform from Elon Musk seeking Clarity on how
the social media giant is addressing online, heat speech
and abuse. And this is because he lifted
all of those banned accounts, the e-safety commissioner headed
by Julie and Min Grant is ramping up its campaign to hold
Twitter accountable. The latest demand from the
regulator came after Twitter became the platform with the
most complaints, To online hate exceeding, those against
Facebook Instagram and even Tick-Tock despite having
significantly fewer users in Australia, in mid Grant in her
statement, accused Twitter of falling short in managing
online. Hate her claim stem from musk's
controversial decision to reinstate 62,000 band accounts,
some of which belonged to individuals known to propagate
Nazi ideologies. Now musk who purchased a
platform for forty four billion dollars in October promised a
commitment to free speech, which many perceive as the root of the
current issue. Inman Grant said, the prevalence
of online hate on Twitter is a growing concern.
We demand accountability from these platforms to safeguard
their users and there can be no accountability without
transparency. That's precisely what the legal
notice aims to achieve if Twitter fails to respond to the
notice within 28 days, it risks a Fine of 700,000 Australian
dollars that's 473 480 US dollars every day.
Now the company has so far declined to comment on the
matter though, the regulator's stern warning, coincides with an
escalating debate about race as Australia.
Approaches a constitutional referendum later this year, the
proposed amendment aims to recognize the rights of
indigenous people. Now prominent indigenous
television, host stand Grant cited, targeted abuse on Twitter
when he announced a break from the media last month.
Furthermore National indigenous television decided to pause as
activities on a platform, condemning the daily racism and
hate in a counters. Now, the e-safety commissioner
has asked Twitter to elaborate on the process of reinstating
band accounts, its interactions with communities subject to
online hate and it's enforcement.
I see is prohibiting hateful conduct since must take over in
Maine. Grant, a former Twitter
executive has noticed, a quote whirring surge of hate online.
Any significant increase in reports of serious online abuse.
The current scenario suggests Twitter's commitment to free
speech may be fostering a more toxic online environment.
Now, Twitter's reinstatement of tens of thousands of accounts.
Previously, banned under different management has been
flagged as a contributing factor to the And hate speech.
The reinstatement of those accounts is seemingly emboldened
extremists, outrage Peddlers and even neo-nazis.
Both domestically and internationally in been Grant
has said Australia's Online safety act introduced in 2021
and touted as a world. First could see Twitter face a
daily fine of up to four hundred and seventy-five thousand
dollars, if it doesn't comply. Now, the ACT obliges social
media platforms is to ensure user safety, which includes
limiting. Cyber abused Australia.
Is serious about enforcing this law associate professor in
political sociality and deakin University in Melbourne, Josh
ruse, held the move stating. If you do business in Australia,
you're still subject to Australian legislation
especially around hate speech and anti-discrimination.
Now, unlike the United States Australia doesn't have a broad
constitutional right to free speech.
Implementing stricter, defamation laws and Racial
discrimination act. These regulations, make it an
offence to publicly, offend insult, humiliate, or intimidate
a person on the basis of their race, additional protections
extend to other categories, like disability gender or sexual
identity varying from state to state.
Twitter's current policy could contravene these protections
according to ruse by allowing language that discriminates
against these protected categories and despite Musk
stepping aside as CEO recently wanting Linda?
Yeah, kirino to the role his past decisions.
Have undeniably shaped the current Twitter landscape in
April and Analysis by rest of world found that Twitter under
musk's ownership complied, fully with 83% of governmental
requests compared with 50% previously.
Australia has demonstrated its willingness to stand against
social media Giants before and in 2021 the government enacted
legislation for Certain social media platforms to pay news
Organization for Content shared on their sites.
Now, this current legal notice is yet another step
demonstrating Australia's, commitment to holding social
media platforms to higher standards of responsibility and
accountability. And Twitter is walking on a thin
line here. If they don't comply with this,
they're going to have to spend a lot of money with the Australian
government, or they can shut down their practice and
Australia and not get fined. Yeah, those are pretty much the
only two options. So we'll see what happens.
Stay tuned because we'll have that information for you.
As soon as we get it, thank you for listening today.
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