Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has criticized the Australian government as "fascist" in response to proposed legislation that seeks to impose significant fines on social media companies for failing to control the spread of misinformation.
On Thursday, the Australian Labor government unveiled a bill that could fine online platforms up to 5% of their global revenue if they are found to be contributing to the dissemination of false information.
The proposed law would require these platforms to establish and adhere to codes of conduct aimed at preventing the spread of dangerous misinformation.
A regulatory body would oversee this process and impose fines on companies that do not comply with the regulations.
Musk, known for his strong advocacy of free speech, responded to a social media post about the new law with a stark label, denouncing the measure as "fascist."
In response, a spokesperson for Australia's Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, emphasized that companies operating within Australia are required to follow the country's legal standards.
The spokesperson highlighted that the legislation aims to enhance transparency and accountability for digital platforms, their users, and the Australian public.
Musk's criticism adds to his history of conflict with the Australian government. In April, he challenged a regulatory directive to remove certain posts related to a Sydney bishop, which led Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to describe Musk as an "arrogant billionaire."
Follow the latest news on Google News
