Canberra, 25 May 2024, (GNP): A Muslim advocacy group has secured a landmark victory against X in a hate speech lawsuit, as reported on Facebook.
The Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) won the case after an Australian court ruled that it has jurisdiction over X and can impose orders related to the group’s complaint. This decision establishes that Australian hate speech laws are applicable to social media companies.
AMAN accused X of breaching the Anti-Discrimination Act by allowing anti-Muslim content on its platform, which they argued incited hatred against Muslims in Queensland. X’s legal defense claimed it was a foreign entity and a company, not an individual, thus outside the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Nevertheless, the Tribunal confirmed its jurisdiction, citing the impact of X’s activities and its advertising revenue from Queensland users.
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First of it’s kind
A spokesperson for the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) commended the court’s decision, highlighting its beneficial impact on communities affected by hate speech.
“This is the first legal victory against a social media company under Australian vilification laws, which will have significant consequences for all social media companies operating in Australia,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “This decision affirms that protections in Australia do indeed apply to social media companies, ensuring that hate speech is regulated by clear standards rather than corporate discretion.”
Speaking to the Australian news outlet SBS News, AMAN legal adviser Rita Markwell emphasized that the ruling underscored the applicability of local laws to social media companies. Markwell noted that although the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) ruling is specific to Queensland, it would influence other jurisdictions due to its landmark nature. “The QCAT decision will ‘carry weight’ in other jurisdictions, signaling that social media companies must comply with local hate speech laws even if they operate on a global scale,” she explained.
Markwell added that the tribunal’s decision sends a strong message to social media platforms, reinforcing that their operations and policies must align with the legal standards set forth by Australian law.
This landmark ruling not only marks a significant win for AMAN but also sets a precedent for future cases involving hate speech and social media companies in Australia. “When we were preparing this case, there was no other precedent. This is the first of its kind,” she said.
