Elon Musk calls Australian government ‘fascists’ over proposed misinformation law

Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has sparked controversy by labelling the Australian government as “fascists” in response to its proposed legislation aimed at curbing misinformation online.

The bill, introduced by the centre-left Labor Party, would allow authorities to fine social media platforms up to 5 percent of their global annual revenue if they fail to prevent the spread of false or deceptive content likely to cause serious harm.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland defended the proposal, stating that misinformation and disinformation pose significant threats to Australia’s democracy and public safety. “Doing nothing and allowing this problem to fester is not an option,” Rowland said while unveiling the draft law on Thursday.

Musk, owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), took to the platform to offer his sharp critique of the law, responding with just one word: “Fascists.” His comment comes amid broader tensions between Musk and Australian authorities over freedom of speech issues, particularly surrounding content moderation on social media.

Government officials swiftly hit back at Musk’s remarks. Government Services Minister Bill Shorten accused Musk of inconsistency, saying, “Elon Musk’s had more positions on free speech than the Kama Sutra. You know, when it’s in its commercial interests, he is the champion of free speech, and when he doesn’t like it, he’s going to shut it all down.”

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Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones also criticized Musk, calling his response “crackpot stuff” and arguing that the proposed law is about protecting national sovereignty, not stifling free speech. “Publishing deepfake material, publishing child pornography. Livestreaming murder scenes. I mean, is this what he thinks free speech is all about?” Jones said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

This is not the first time Musk has clashed with Australian officials. In April, X fought a legal order from Australia’s eSafety commissioner to remove graphic posts related to a knife attack on a bishop in Sydney. The confrontation escalated, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese branding Musk an “arrogant billionaire.” The legal battle ended in June when the court declined to extend the removal order.

As the debate over the proposed misinformation law heats up, Musk’s pointed comments highlight the growing global tensions between governments and tech giants over content regulation and free speech in the digital age.