Free speech win for X sets stage for ‘Billboard Chris’ challenge

Elon Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter) has claimed a win for free speech as the eSafety Commissioner has conceded her case attempting to force the removal of videos showing the attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in April.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal made orders with the agreement of both parties to resolve proceedings, with the Commissioner effectively dropping the case.

Mar Emmanuel supported the sharing of the footage, but the eSafety Commissioner ordered X to block the video on its platform. X blocked access to the video in Australia, but challenged the demand for it to be censored globally.

Earlier this year, a federal court rejected the attempt by the eSafety Commissioner to enforce worldwide censorship of the videos on the platform.

This development comes as Canadian father and activist Chris Elston – known as ‘Billboard Chris’ – is challenging a similar content removal notice from the eSafety Commissioner requiring X to remove one of his tweets.

Mr Elston’s tweet, which is now geoblocked in Australia but still visible elsewhere, reads as follows:

This woman (yes, she’s female), is part of a panel of 20 ‘experts’ hired by the @WHO to draft their policy on caring for ‘trans people.’ People who belong in psychiatric wards are writing the guidelines for people who belong in psychiatric wards.

In relation to the tweet, Mr Elston said:

(It was) not my nicest tweet ever, but technically accurate, and I don’t mean that to say all trans-identified people belong in psychiatric wards, especially kids.

Mr Elston, who is campaigning against gender ideology, says that no matter what you think of his post, it’s important to stand against government censorship:

Whether or not you support my message, we can all agree that this form of state-imposed censorship is entirely illiberal and undemocratic. Australians have a right to openly discuss the serious issues impacting our children today.

HRLA is assisting ‘Billboard Chris’ in his bid to reverse the eSafety Commissioner’s order to remove his comments from social media.

His case will be another important test of free speech in Australia and has the potential to create an important precedent.

Along with Jereth Kok’s ongoing trial, now awaiting a decision after closing submissions this week, there is currently much at stake for fundamental freedoms in this country.

Every person has the right under international law to peacefully share their beliefs. HRLA exists to help protect this fundamental freedom for all Australians.