Elon Musk’s platform, X, faces escalating scrutiny after failing to pay a substantial fine imposed by Australia’s internet safety watchdog.
The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, took action against the company, formerly known as Twitter, for its failure to address the proliferation of content depicting child sexual abuse on its platform.
Elon Musk’s Platform Under Fire
In response to unanswered inquiries dating back to February, Inman Grant levied a significant fine of Aus$ 610,500 (US$388,000) last month, citing the company’s lack of substantive action in combating this critical issue.
X was given until the end of October to settle the fine, request an extension, or seek withdrawal of the penalty. Despite requesting an extension, the deadline lapsed last Friday without payment.
An eSafety spokesperson confirmed that X hadn’t met the payment deadline, prompting the watchdog to mull over further actions in response. Despite AFP’s attempts to reach out for comment, X remained silent on the matter.
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Pressure Mounts on X to Act Decisively
Inman Grant, a former Twitter employee herself, had previously emphasized the urgency for X to demonstrate concrete measures to eradicate harmful content from its platform. She criticized the company’s emphasis on addressing child sexual exploitation as mere “empty talk” without tangible actions.
Under Musk’s leadership, X underwent significant workforce reductions, including content moderators responsible for curbing abusive content. This downsizing has led to a marked decrease in proactive detection of child sexual exploitation on the platform.
Australia, at the forefront of global efforts to regulate social media platforms, has repeatedly raised concerns about X and Musk’s management. In addition to addressing child sexual exploitation, Inman Grant had earlier highlighted a surge in overall “toxicity and hate” following Musk’s takeover.
The failure to address these critical issues not only deepens regulatory challenges for X but also raises questions about the platform’s commitment to ensuring user safety and well-being. As pressure mounts, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on X to take decisive and effective action in safeguarding its users, especially the most vulnerable among them.
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