Musk scores win in battle over church stabbing footage

Australia’s internet cop has been dealt a loss in its battle with the Elon Musk-owned social media platform X over video of a stabbing during a live-streamed sermon.

The eSafety Commissioner sought a temporary injunction ordering X, formerly Twitter, to block 65 websites containing a clip of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel being attacked until Justice Geoffrey Kennett determined whether the social media platform breached any laws.

An order was made and extended in April, but on Monday Kennett rejected an application to extend the injunction further before a hearing in the Federal Court on Wednesday.

X’s barrister Bret Walker SC told the court last Friday that X had already taken all reasonable steps it could to block the clip from Australian viewers short of removing the footage from everyone globally.

The commissioner had the power to order the removal of videos advocating terrorism or showing gratuitous, exploitative violence, but the clip did not fall into either category.

While the company blocked Australian users from viewing the clip, the court heard virtual private networks allowed users to circumvent geographic restrictions and view the material.

The stabbing incident was declared a terrorist incident. Several teenagers have since faced court charged with related offences, including the alleged attacker.

- CyberBeat