Elon Musk has sparked controversy by labeling Australian government officials "fascists" over proposed legislation aimed at curbing the spread of fake news on digital platforms.
The law targets social media companies, obliging them to manage the risks associated with false information, or face fines of up to 5% of their annual revenue.
Australia's Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, said that fake information is dangerous to people's security and the nation's democracy, and something must be done about it.
The proposed law would not apply to professional news, humor or content intended for education or art.
However, Musk criticized the law, causing disagreements with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government.
Australia has previously clashed with Musk's social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), over harmful content.
The legislation is expected to face challenges in Parliament, as it needs support from opposition parties or independent senators.
Critics, including opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson, have raised concerns about the potential censorship of legitimate political views under the misinformation regulator.
Previously the X platform had been banned by the Brazilian government following an order issued by Judge Alexander de Moraes due to failure to meet the country's legal demands.
