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My Take | Australia PM Anthony Albanese reels in Elon Musk over harmful content – time to cast net wider
- The Australian PM was incensed after Musk’s X ignored a court order to remove videos of a stabbing attack in Sydney
- Other powerful individuals who attack minorities in society and defame people without proof should also be taken to task
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Su-Lin Tanin Singapore
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to be quite the hero this week.
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In a public spat between the PM and Elon Musk, the world’s second richest man, the PM called the Tesla CEO on Tuesday an “arrogant billionaire” who “puts his ego over common decency”.
It is rare to see politicians and powerful CEOs – many of whom are friends with each other – come to blows so openly.
But Albanese was incensed because Musk’s X – formerly known as Twitter – would not obey an Australian court order to take down videos of one of the stabbing attacks in Sydney last week. Other platforms had, according to local media.
The reprimand from Albanese and other Australian ministers was pointed and swift while Musk accused Canberra of trying to control the internet and free speech.
“This bloke thinks he’s above everyone,” Albanese said on local TV, adding that he would not tolerate Musk lecturing Australians on free speech from the “billionaires establishments”.
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