Australian Judge Fines X A$650,000 for Child Safety Breach After 3-Year Court Fight
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 21
Australian Judge Fines X A$650,000 for Child Safety Breach After 3-Year Court Fight
8 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 21
A federal judge ordered X to pay A$650,000 and another A$100,000 in costs for failing to fully answer a 2023 eSafety notice on child sexual exploitation content.
The penalty followed X’s admission that it breached Australia’s Online Safety Act by not providing a complete report by the March 29, 2023 deadline.
Justice Michael Wheelahan’s ruling closes a three-year dispute in which X argued it was not required to answer; the full Federal Court rejected that position in July 2025, upholding an October 2024 decision.
Julie Inman Grant said the case underscored the need for transparency from major platforms so the public can judge how they handle the “worst-of-the-worst” abuse material.
With regulators also cited for overreach, who ensures the fight for online safety doesn't trample free speech?
Amidst fines and fraud verdicts, is Elon Musk’s leadership creating a pattern of costly legal defeats for X?