X to Challenge Australian Regulator's Order Over Sydney Stabbing

Social media platform X has declared its intention to challenge an order issued by an Australian regulator, which mandates the removal of certain posts related to the stabbing incident involving a bishop in Sydney.

The incident, which unfolded at a church in the New South Wales capital on Monday, resulted in the charging of a 16-year-old boy with a terrorism offence.

According to Reuters, footage from the scene captured the boy being subdued by the congregation, as he made allegations against Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, accusing him of insulting Islam.

X's Global Government Affairs division took to social media on Saturday to announce that the Australian eSafety Commissioner had directed the company to remove specific posts in Australia discussing the attack on the Christian Bishop.

According to X, the regulator threatened daily fines of A$785,000 ($500,000) if the platform failed to comply with the directive.

While X refrained from disclosing the nature of the posts in question, it asserted that the eSafety Commissioner's order exceeded the boundaries of Australian law.

However, in adherence to the directive, X temporarily removed the posts, pending a legal challenge.

Asserting its stance, X emphasized that the eSafety Commissioner lacked the jurisdiction to dictate the content visible to X users worldwide.

The company vowed to mount a robust legal challenge against what it termed an "unlawful and dangerous" approach.

In response to X's defiance, a spokesperson for the regulatory agency referenced an earlier statement by the eSafety Commissioner, affirming its efforts to ensure X's compliance with Australian law.

The agency hinted at the possibility of further regulatory measures being considered.

The eSafety Commissioner, a governmental entity tasked with combating harmful online content, had previously dispatched legal notices in March to various social media platforms, including X, seeking information on their strategies to eradicate terrorism-related content.

Bishop Emmanuel, known for his online presence and polarizing rhetoric, holds a significant following worldwide.

However, his outspoken views on subjects such as homosexuality, COVID vaccinations, Islam, and U.S. President Joe Biden's election have fueled controversy and divisiveness.