“Fascists”: Elon Musk responds to proposed fines for disinformation on X
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Elon Musk has lambasted Australia's government as fascists" over proposed laws that could levy substantial fines on social media companies if they fail to comply with rules to combat the spread of disinformation and online scams.
The billionaire owner of social media site X posted the word fascists" on Friday in response to the bill, which would strengthen the Australian media regulator's ability to hold companies responsible for the content on their platforms and levy potential fines of up to 5 percent of global revenue. The bill, which was proposed this week, has yet to be passed.
Musk's comments drew rebukes from senior Australian politicians, with Stephen Jones, Australia's finance minister, telling national broadcaster ABC that it was crackpot stuff" and the legislation was a matter of sovereignty.