Staff at eSafety Threatened for Removing Stabbing Videos from X Platform
eSafety has reached out to NSW and federal police for assistance in addressing the online threats.
The internet watchdog in Australia has faced threats and online abuse following the removal of footage showing a Christian church stabbing as per court documents.
On April 15, during a live-streamed church service, a teenager in black attire approached Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and proceeded to strike him multiple times with a knife.
eSafety requested social media platforms to take down the video, citing it as containing “gratuitous or offensive violence with a high degree of impact or detail.”
While some companies, like Meta, complied, X chose to geo-block the content for Australian users but kept it available globally, sparking a disagreement with eSafety.
X Corp argued that eSafety’s demand to remove the material worldwide was unreasonable.
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eSafety deemed X’s actions insufficient and initiated legal proceedings seeking a permanent injunction and civil penalties against X Corp.
Safety Concern for Staff
In an affidavit submitted to the Federal Court, Toby Dagg, eSafety Commission’s general manager of regulatory operations, mentioned an escalation in threats and online abuse against Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, prompting the need for police assistance.
Mr. Dagg further requested the court to withhold the names of other eSafety personnel, apart from himself and Ms. Inman Grant.
Concerned for the safety and well-being of Commissioner Inman Grant and her family, eSafety sought support from the Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police Force.
The court granted Mr. Dagg’s request, acknowledging the potential risks to the safety of eSafety officers if their names were disclosed.
Court Rules eSafety Has No Power to Block Content Overseas
In a ruling on May 14, Justice Geoffrey Kennett denied eSafety’s request for an extended global interim injunction, asserting it lacked a genuine connection to Australia or its interests.
The judge highlighted that extending the ban beyond Australia would infringe upon the principle of “comity of nations,” which respects the laws and customs of other countries.
“Most likely, the notice would be ignored or disparaged in other countries.”
The case is ongoing and set for a two-day hearing starting July 24.
Despite eSafety’s efforts to censor the stabbing video, Bishop Mar Emmanuel expressed support for X, advocating for the video to remain accessible online.
In a court affidavit, the bishop emphasized the Australian people’s rights to freedom of speech and religion and voiced concerns about potential exploitation of the incident for political gain and to suppress free speech.
Rex Widerstrom contributed to this article.
