Should politicians get off X? (24 Apr 2024)

Now that the ongoing debate about social media, Australian security chiefs say the platforms are inflaming extremism. One senator says politicians should delete their accounts on the X platform and get off it.

X is expected to face the Australian Federal Court again this week as the E -Safety Commissioner tries to extend an injunction, stopping the platform from showing videos of the stabbing at a Sydney church. With more, here's political reporter Evelyn Manfield.

“Start switching off X”. A call from Senator Jackie Lambie to her colleagues in federal parliament as the rift deepens between social media platform ex and authorities in Australia.

But her calls don't seem to be gaining much traction. “I don't think that everyone deleting their accounts is necessary.” David Coleman is the shadow communications minister. “There's a lot of political debate and important discussion on some of the social media platforms, whether it's X or Facebook or wherever, and some of those conversations can be important and worthwhile. But I think that who should be getting off social media absolutely is children.”

Independent MP Kate Chaney is one of the many federal politicians on the platform. Why are you on Twitter? “Well, it can be pretty brutal. But also, you know, sometimes there are interesting discussions there. And I am I do like the fact that you get real time responses and you get a wide range of responses. It can be really brutal. It's not a nice part of the job. But in between the hate, people do actually make some good points.”

In a statement, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Australians will make their own minds up about whether they should stay on platforms like X.

She added, when sensible people leave these spaces, that often doesn't improve the situation. The Australian government is currently at loggerheads with Elon Musk's platform X after the eSafety Commissioner won a temporary federal court injunction to remove graphic videos worldwide of the stabbing at a Sydney church.

The eSafety Commissioner expects a further hearing this week for the federal court to decide whether to extend the interim injunction. Lawyer and Chair of Digital Rights Watch, Lizzie O 'Shea, is someone who will be watching closely.

“The eSafety Commissioner has had Twitter at sites for a while. It's had previous actions that it's taken asking, for example, Twitter to explain what kind of work it's doing to protect safety in its environment and fines associated with that. And one of the things the Commissioner said was that should a Twitter employee come to Australia, then there's a real risk they could face action by law enforcement if they continuously fail to pay fines that are lawfully issued against them.”

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Rhys Kershaw is also weighing in, accusing platforms of pouring accelerant on the flames of misinformation and extremism. He'll be talking about the real world consequences of social media companies defiance and indifference at his National Press Club address today.