Australia’s internet safety watchdog has issued a threat to fine Twitter for its failure to address online abuse, attributing a surge in “toxicity and hate” to Elon Musk’s takeover of the platform. Julie Inman Grant, the e-safety commissioner and a former Twitter employee revealed that one in three complaints about online hate speech in Australia is now directed at Twitter. Inman Grant stipulated that Twitter has a 28-day deadline to demonstrate its commitment to tackling the issue, or else it could face fines of Aus$700,000 (approximately R8.7 million) for each day it misses the deadline.
According to Inman Grant, Twitter must present a set of specific measures illustrating its efforts to prevent online hate on its platform and enforce its own rules. She emphasized the need for accountability and action from platforms like Twitter to protect their users. Inman Grant also highlighted the importance of transparency, stating that legal notices like the one issued are intended to achieve this goal.
Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022, he has significantly reduced the global workforce by over 80%, including content moderators responsible for combatting abuse. In November, Musk announced a broad amnesty that allowed many suspended or banned accounts to return to the platform.
Inman Grant criticized Twitter for its failure to address hate speech adequately, noting her concern about escalating levels of toxicity and hate targeting marginalized communities. She also expressed worries about accessible content on Twitter that likely violates the platform’s own terms of service.
Australia has been at the forefront of global efforts to regulate social media platforms, and Inman Grant has previously publicly singled out Twitter. In November, she wrote to Elon Musk expressing concerns that the company’s significant staff cuts would hinder compliance with Australian laws.
In May, Indigenous journalist Stan Grant, a prominent figure in Australian media, lodged a complaint with Twitter regarding the continuous racial abuse he faced on the platform. Recently, major music publishers in the United States filed a lawsuit against Twitter, alleging the platform’s failure to address rampant copyright infringement.
Furthermore, a European Union commissioner accused Twitter of opting for “confrontation” after the platform withdrew from a voluntary digital code of practice in June.
