May 29, 2025 10:56 pm
Full News

Elon Musk Criticizes Australia’s Social Media Ban; PM Albanese Says Musk Pushing Agenda

Sydney – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on December 1 dismissed criticism by Elon Musk of the country’s newly legislated social media ban for children under 16, saying the billionaire and X (formerly Twitter) owner was “pushing an agenda” for his platform. However, Albanese indicated he was open to discussions with Musk regarding the policy.

The controversial ban, passed on November 28 after heated debate, requires tech companies like Meta (owner of Instagram and Facebook) and TikTok to block minors from logging into their platforms or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (S$43 million). Enforcement trials are set to begin in January 2025, with the ban taking full effect a year later.

Musk, who posted earlier this month that the legislation appeared to be a “backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians,” has sparked concerns about potential implications for internet freedom. Musk is also a key ally of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, which could strain Australia’s relationship with the United States.

Asked about Musk’s comments, Albanese told ABC television, “We’ll talk to anyone,” while also adding, “With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda, and he’s entitled to push that as the owner of X.”

Albanese emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing the ban, calling it a “world-leading” effort to regulate Big Tech and protect children. The legislation, passed with bipartisan support, was among 31 bills fast-tracked through Parliament on its chaotic final day for 2024.

Representatives for X did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Related News
Journalist Attacked with Bricks by Miscreants in Bangladesh
‘We Are Probably The Worst Team In The History Of Manchester United’
South Korean Court Removes President Yoon, Election to Be Held Within 60 Days
US Secretary of State Calls for Zelensky to Apologize After Heated Oval Office Clash with Trump
Ukrainian Soldiers Will Be Spared If They Surrender: PuMMMzmmzmz
Bangladesh’s GDP Growth to Wane in the Current Fiscal Year
Related Posts
MIT Shuts Down DEI Office Amid National Debate and Trump Administration Pressure
GOP Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Rename D.C. Metro as “Trump Train”
Kamala Harris’s 2028 Nomination Is Hers to Lose — and She’s Losing It
Trump Sees Major Wins in Latin America
SpaceX Starship Setbacks Raise Concerns Over NASA’s 2027 Moon Mission
Lashkar-e-Taiba Claims Role in Bangladesh Uprising, Raising Alarms Over Regional Security
More News

IPL Mega-Auction Kicks Off in Saudi Arabia: Teams Ready to Spend Big

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to hold its highly anticipated “mega-auction” on Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with teams expected to shell out millions for world-class cricketers in preparation for the lucrative Twenty20 tournament. A total of 574 players are up for grabs during the two-day event, including Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, England’s […]

Netanyahu Orders Attack on the West Bank After Bus Explosions in Tel Aviv

February 21, 2025 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a large-scale military operation in the West Bank following a series of explosions in Tel Aviv. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, involved three empty buses that were targeted in the Bat Yam and Holon areas near the city. The Israeli government described […]

At Least 79 Soldiers Killed in al-Qaeda Affiliate Attack in Benin

A local al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group in Benin, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks on two military posts, resulting in the deaths of at least 79 soldiers. The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activities online, reported this on Saturday. JNIM, an affiliate of the Middle East-based terrorist group al-Qaeda, […]

Badruddin Umar’s Anti-Awami League Stance: History or Defamation?

Mollah Muhammad Azam Badruddin Umar is often introduced as a historian and leftist political leader of Bangladesh. However, his writings resemble the biased attack of a cunning wolf rather than objective history. His so-called historical narratives are filled with attempts to undermine and distort the contributions of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. […]

U.S. and Russian Foreign Ministers Engage in Verbal Clash

The United States and Russia remain on opposing sides regarding the Ukraine war. The U.S. has been providing Ukraine with extensive support, including fighter jets and tanks. This ongoing rivalry resurfaced when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov engaged in a verbal clash with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. According to a report by Al […]

The Tangled Princess is Coming to Life

Rapunzel, a beloved character from German folklore, is a magical princess with long golden hair. Her origin story involves a magical flower, and after a wicked queen steals the flower, Rapunzel is born. The queen locks her away in a tall tower, hoping to keep her magical powers to herself. Rapunzel grows up unaware of […]

US Officials Reject Claims of 43-Country Travel Ban as Uncertainty Mounts

Recent reports suggesting that 43 countries could face complete or partial travel restrictions have been dismissed by U.S. officials. According to the U.S. State Department, no official list of banned nations exists. In a recent press briefing, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce clarified, “What people are looking at over these last several days is not […]

North Korean Troops Face Heavy Casualties on Ukraine’s Front Lines, White House Reports

North Korean soldiers are enduring significant casualties while fighting on the front lines of Russia’s war against Ukraine. In the past week alone, around 1,000 North Korean troops have been killed or injured in Russia’s Kursk region, White House spokesperson John Kirby revealed on Friday. This figure is notably higher than any previously disclosed by […]

India Launches Overnight Drone Strikes Across Pakistan; 25 Drones Shot Down

A day after the most severe military clash between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan in two decades, India launched another wave of drone attacks targeting various locations across Pakistan. The Pakistani military reported on Thursday that at least 25 Israeli-made Harop drones were shot down across the country. Tensions escalated following a deadly attack in […]

China Calls Taiwan President ‘Parasite’, Launches Military Drills

China has launched a military drill around Taiwan, involving joint exercises by its army, navy, and rocket forces. The Chinese military also labeled Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, a “parasite,” a term criticized by Taiwan as unhelpful to peace efforts. In response, Taiwan deployed military aircraft and ships. The drills, which began on April 1, 2025, […]