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Twitter Faces Hefty Fines in eSafety Battle: Court to Decide May 10th

​The battle between eSafety Commissioner and Twitter (referred to as platform X in earlier reports) is heating up. A court date is set for May 10th to determine whether Twitter's actions constitute complying with takedown orders.
The Backstory:
The eSafety Commissioner flagged 65 social media posts deemed harmful and requested their removal. Twitter complied by geo-blocking the content, making it inaccessible to users in Australia. However, the eSafety Commissioner argues that the content remains accessible through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), essentially bypassing the geo-block.
The Stakes for Twitter:
The potential consequences for Twitter are significant. The platform faces a daily fine of $782,500 since April 16th if the court rules that geo-blocking doesn't fulfil a takedown order. This could result in a substantial financial penalty for Twitter… $18.8 million actually.
What's at Stake for Australia?
This case has broader implications for Australia's online safety landscape. The court's decision will set a precedent regarding the effectiveness of geo-blocking in content moderation.
Possible Outcomes:
Here are two potential scenarios:

• Court Sides with eSafety: If the court decides that geo-blocking is insufficient, it could force social media platforms to remove content globally upon request from the eSafety Commissioner. This raises concerns about potential overreach in content moderation and the impact on free speech.
• Court Sides with Twitter: A ruling in favour of Twitter could solidify geo-blocking as an acceptable method for complying with takedown requests. However, this might not completely address concerns about content accessibility via VPNs.

May 10th: A Pivotal Date
The upcoming court hearing on May 10th will be closely watched by both parties and anyone concerned about online safety and content moderation in Australia. The decision will determine the effectiveness of eSafety's enforcement powers and the future landscape of social media content regulation in the country.

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