Australian court fines X AU$650K for child safety violations

Australian federal court upheld a AU$650,000 (US$464,900) fine against Elon Musk's X for failing to comply with child internet safety regulations, ending a three-year legal battle. The fine stems from X's "incomplete" responses to eSafety regulator's demands in 2023 about how the platform keeps children safe from sexual abuse content.

Justice Michael Wheelahan called for "a penalty near the maximum" to make it "a real deterrent and not simply a cost of doing business." The ruling follows Australia's world-first laws banning under-16s from social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, with Israel, UK, Norway, and New Zealand reportedly considering similar crackdowns.

"Meaningful transparency is critical to holding tech companies to account," eSafety head Julie Inman Grant stated. With Australia leading global efforts to rein in big tech, this case sets a precedent that could force social media platforms worldwide to take child safety more seriously or face significant financial penalties.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/05/21/australian-court-upholds-465000-fine-against-elon-musks-x/