Elon Musk-owned X has been fined AU$650,000 by an Australian court for failing to comply with the country’s online child protection laws. The Federal Court said the platform did not properly respond to questions from Australia’s eSafety commissioner about the steps taken to tackle child sexual exploitation material on X.
The matter goes back to 2023, when the regulator sent a legal notice to Twitter before the company was renamed X after Musk’s takeover. The notice sought details on how the platform identifies, removes and reports child abuse content.
The regulator told the court that the company failed to provide clear answers and remained non-compliant for 38 days.
Justice Michael Wheelahan said the penalty should send a clear message to large digital platforms operating in Australia. The court also ordered X to pay AU$100,000 towards legal costs.
X argued that the notice had originally been issued to Twitter Inc before the company’s restructuring. The court rejected the argument and held the platform responsible for responding to the regulator.
Australia’s eSafety commissioner welcomed the ruling and said tech companies cannot avoid accountability on issues involving child safety.
Also Read: How to Easily Put Sensitive Content Warnings on X
Australia has been strict with social media companies in recent years, introducing stricter online safety rules and pushing platforms to act faster against harmful content.
The ruling adds to the pressure already facing X since Musk acquired the platform in 2022. The company has repeatedly faced criticism over changes to content moderation and cuts to safety teams.
The latest decision signals that Australian authorities are ready to take legal action against global tech companies that fail to meet local regulations.