X has lost a legal fight in Australia against a $400,000 fine imposed by the eSafety Commission due to non-compliance with requests for information on handling child sexual exploitation on the platform. The company, formerly known as Twitter, tried to avoid the fine by claiming that Twitter no longer existed after March 15, 2023. This argument, seen as a creative legal maneuver during a year-long dispute with the commission, was dismissed by Australia federal Judge Michael Wheelahan as requiring “leaps in logic.” X, owned by Elon Musk, has previously attempted to evade scrutiny by portraying itself as a “brand new company.” The ruling was praised by eSafety Commissioner Inman Grant, who warned that accepting X’s argument could set a concerning precedent for foreign companies avoiding regulatory obligations in Australia.
