"Fascists"

Elon Musk insults Australian government

Musk's comment on a draft law was dismissed as "spin".(Bild: APA/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Elon Musk has called the Australian government "fascists" over a new proposed law. The bill introduced to parliament by the Labor government on Thursday proposes fining internet platforms up to five percent of their global revenue if they spread misinformation.

Tech platforms would also have to draw up codes of conduct to prevent the spread of misinformation. Musk, who sees himself as an advocate of freedom of expression, responded to a post by an X user who linked to the Reuters news agency's report on the new misinformation law with a single word: "fascists".

Deputy Treasurer Stephen Jones described Musk's comment as "spin". "This is about sovereignty, (...) we are exercising our right to make laws that keep Australians safe," Jones told ABC television.

Social media platforms should not publish fraudulent content, fake material and livestreams of violence in the name of freedom of expression, he added.

Musk has been at loggerheads with the Australian government for some time: over another conflict, X went to court in April to challenge a cyber regulator's order to remove some posts about the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney - prompting Premier Anthony Albanese to call Musk an "arrogant billionaire".