SYDNEY, May 21, 2026 — A court in Australia has fined X Corp, the social media company controlled by Elon Musk, for failing to comply with the country’s online child protection requirements.
The decision concludes a legal dispute that began after Australia’s eSafety regulator accused the platform of not properly responding to official questions regarding efforts to prevent child exploitation material from spreading online.
X Corp Ordered to Pay Fine and Legal Costs
Under the court ruling, X Corp must pay A$650,000 in penalties along with A$100,000 to cover legal expenses incurred by the Australian regulator.
Justice Michael Wheelahan said the penalty needed to be substantial enough to discourage major technology companies from ignoring regulatory responsibilities.
The company admitted that it had failed to fully comply with the transparency notice issued by authorities.
Dispute Emerged After Twitter Rebranding
The original notice was sent to Twitter in early 2023 before the company officially changed its corporate identity to X Corp.
Lawyers representing X had argued that the request no longer applied after Twitter merged into the new entity. However, Australian courts rejected that position and ruled the company remained legally responsible for answering the regulator’s demands.
eSafety Commissioner Stresses Need for Accountability
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant welcomed the court’s decision and said technology companies must remain transparent about how they handle harmful online content involving children.
Grant has previously been involved in high-profile disagreements with Musk over content moderation and online safety enforcement in Australia.
The regulator has also criticised X over other issues, including violent material circulating on the platform and compliance with Australia’s youth-focused social media rules.
Governments Increasing Pressure on Tech Giants
The ruling reflects a broader global trend of governments pushing large social media companies to take stronger action against illegal and dangerous online content.
Australia has become one of the leading countries advocating stricter oversight of digital platforms, particularly in areas involving child protection and internet safety.
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