Guardian

Elon Musks X wins appeal to lift block on Australians seeing Charlie Kirk shooting footage

People Daily

Elon Musks X Wins Appeal To Lift Block On Australians Seeing Charlie Kirks Shooting Footage

Firstpost

Elon Musks X wins appeal against Australia ban on Charlie Kirk shooting footage: 'Uphold free speech'

GlobalAffairs

Aaj English TV

Australia allows X users to view Charlie Kirks shooting footage after appeal

Sky News Australia

Social media ban disguising rollout of censorship laws

eSafety Commissioner

Distressing Content

ABC Australia

I tried to outsmart the social media algorithm. Here's how it outsmarted me

<h2>Limited Coverage</h2>

Australia's classification review board overturned a decision by the eSafety commissioner to block Australians from viewing footage of the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk on social media after Elon Musk's platform X appealed the ruling sought.

Australia's classification review board overturned a decision by the eSafety commissioner to block Australians from viewing footage of the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk on social media after Elon Musk's platform X appealed the ruling sought.

After <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/conservative-influencer-charlie-kirk-shot-killed-at-university-campus-event">Kirk's death on Sept.10</a>, the eSafety commissioner applied to the board to have footage of the shooting classified in Australia, and the video was ruled to be refused classification, allowing eSafety to serve notices on social media platforms ordering them to geo-block the posts for Australia-based users.

After Kirk's death on Sept.10, the eSafety commissioner applied to the board to have footage of the shooting classified in Australia, and the video was ruled to be refused classification, allowing eSafety to serve notices on social media platforms ordering them to geo-block the posts for Australia-based users.

X appealed against the ruling on two separate Kirk videos, as well as a video of the attack on Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, NC, in August, which was deemed "refused classification." X was successful in all cases.

X appealed against the ruling on two separate Kirk videos, as well as a video of the attack on Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, NC, in August, which was deemed "refused classification." X was successful in all cases.

X argued the Kirk video contained brief violence with no weapon visible and grainy footage, the camera moved away from the victim quickly, and the video was not excessively detailed, gratuitous or offensive, describing it as a neutral, objective record of a historic public event.

X argued the Kirk video contained brief violence with no weapon visible and grainy footage, the camera moved away from the victim quickly, and the video was not excessively detailed, gratuitous or offensive, describing it as a neutral, objective record of a historic public event.

The majority of the review board agreed with those arguments to the extent that it should be refused classification, but that a more detailed depiction with different editing or commentary might rise to the level of refused classification, changing the classification of the videos to R18+.

The majority of the review board agreed with those arguments to the extent that it should be refused classification, but that a more detailed depiction with different editing or commentary might rise to the level of refused classification, changing the classification of the videos to R18+.

A spokesperson for the eSafety commissioner welcomed the ruling but said the review board's view that the video should instead be R18+ rated means platforms have obligations to prevent R18+ material being displayed to Australians under 18.

Global Government Affairs

A spokesperson for the eSafety commissioner welcomed the ruling but said the review board's view that the video should instead be R18+ rated means platforms have obligations to prevent R18+ material being displayed to Australians under 18.

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After Kirk's death on Sept.10, the eSafety commissioner applied to the board to have footage of the shooting classified in Australia, and the video was ruled to be refused classification, allowing eSafety to serve notices on social media platforms ordering them to geo-block the posts for Australia-based users.

X argued the Kirk video contained brief violence with no weapon visible, the footage was grainy and the camera moved away from the victim to the crowd quickly, and the video was not excessively detailed, gratuitous or offensive, describing it as a neutral objective record of a notorious public event of historical and political significance.

X argued the Kirk video contained brief violence with no weapon visible, the footage was grainy and the camera moved away from the victim to the crowd quickly, and the video was not excessively detailed, gratuitous or offensive, describing it as a neutral objective record of a notorious public event of historical and political significance.

The majority of the review board agreed that notwithstanding the heinous nature of the event, the video was not gratuitous, exploitative or offensive to the extent that it should be refused classification, but that a more detailed depiction with different editing or commentary might rise to the level of refused classification, and the board changed the classification of the videos to R18+.

The majority of the review board agreed that notwithstanding the heinous nature of the event, the video was not gratuitous, exploitative or offensive to the extent that it should be refused classification, but that a more detailed depiction with different editing or commentary might rise to the level of refused classification, and the board changed the classification of the videos to R18+.

Australia's Classification Review Board made the right call overturning the ban on Charlie Kirk attack videos. These recordings document real events with profound social and political significance that adults deserve to access. Censorship laws disguised as safety measures threaten free speech and public access to information about matters of genuine importance.

Australia's Classification Review Board made the right call overturning the ban on Charlie Kirk attack videos. These recordings document real events with profound social and political significance that adults deserve to access. Censorship laws disguised as safety measures threaten free speech and public access to information about matters of genuine importance.

Social media platforms must remove content showing extreme violence, terrorism and acts like attempted murder to protect users from serious harm. Sharing violent attack footage causes distress to others and may constitute a crime, regardless of intent. Online spaces need enforceable safety standards that prevent the spread of disturbing material depicting real-world violence.

Social media platforms must remove content showing extreme violence, terrorism and acts like attempted murder to protect users from serious harm. Sharing violent attack footage causes distress to others and may constitute a crime, regardless of intent. Online spaces need enforceable safety standards that prevent the spread of disturbing material depicting real-world violence.

Freedom of Speech

The Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Australia Overturns Ban on Charlie Kirk Shooting Video

Australia

Censorship

Lawsuits

Legal system

Freedom of speech & expression

Australia's Classification Review Board is on the right side of history against the authoritarian eSafety commisioner. These recordings document real events with profound social and political significance that adults deserve to access. Censorship laws, which are being disguised as safety measures, threaten not only free speech, but public access to information about matters of genuine importance.

Australia's Classification Review Board is on the right side of history against the authoritarian eSafety commisioner. These recordings document real events with profound social and political significance that adults deserve to access. Censorship laws, which are being disguised as safety measures, threaten not only free speech, but public access to information about matters of genuine importance.

Social media platforms must remove content showing extreme violence, terrorism and acts like attempted murder to protect users from serious harm. Sharing violent attack footage causes distress to others and may constitute a crime, regardless of intent. Online spaces, which have clearly run amok and harm both children and adults,  need enforceable safety standards that prevent the spread of disturbing material.

Social media platforms must remove content showing extreme violence, terrorism and acts like attempted murder to protect users from serious harm. Sharing violent attack footage causes distress to others and may constitute a crime, regardless of intent. Online spaces, which have clearly run amok and harm both children and adults, need enforceable safety standards that prevent the spread of disturbing material.

Australia Overturns Ban on Charlie Kirk Shooting Video

Australia Overturns Ban on Charlie Kirk Shooting Video

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Australia Overturns Ban on Charlie Kirk Shooting Video

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