Australia's politicians are condemning X's AI chatbot, Grok, over its role in generating and spreading sexualized images of women and children. However, the platform remains a magnet for politicians, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's condemnation.
While the prime minister has called out the use of generative AI to exploit people without consent as "abhorrent", many of his colleagues remain silent on the issue. When asked if they would continue to post on X, most replied that they need to go where their audience is, suggesting a lack of willingness to leave the platform.
Journalists also face a similar dilemma, with some arguing it's a chicken-and-egg problem – do politicians and journalists post on X because of its user base or because of what can be found on the site? The algorithm under Elon Musk's leadership seems to reward divisive content, which is less useful in fast-moving news situations.
One notable exception is eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who quietly ceased posting on X last year due to ongoing legal battles with the platform. Her departure highlights a broader issue: if Australia's online safety regulator finds X to be an unsafe place, what does that say for its users?
The absence of major tech companies like Apple and Google from commenting on X's content is also striking. When Apple removed Tumblr, which hosted consensual adult content, from its app store, it sparked a debate about the role of social media in promoting hate speech.
As the Center for Countering Digital Hate report revealed high levels of antisemitic posts on X, some are calling for an investigation into the platform's role in spreading hate. An eSafety investigation into Grok could lead to penalties, but if app stores remain silent, the regulator may have limited power to act. Until then, it seems that X and its users will continue to be a contentious issue in Australia.
While the prime minister has called out the use of generative AI to exploit people without consent as "abhorrent", many of his colleagues remain silent on the issue. When asked if they would continue to post on X, most replied that they need to go where their audience is, suggesting a lack of willingness to leave the platform.
Journalists also face a similar dilemma, with some arguing it's a chicken-and-egg problem – do politicians and journalists post on X because of its user base or because of what can be found on the site? The algorithm under Elon Musk's leadership seems to reward divisive content, which is less useful in fast-moving news situations.
One notable exception is eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who quietly ceased posting on X last year due to ongoing legal battles with the platform. Her departure highlights a broader issue: if Australia's online safety regulator finds X to be an unsafe place, what does that say for its users?
The absence of major tech companies like Apple and Google from commenting on X's content is also striking. When Apple removed Tumblr, which hosted consensual adult content, from its app store, it sparked a debate about the role of social media in promoting hate speech.
As the Center for Countering Digital Hate report revealed high levels of antisemitic posts on X, some are calling for an investigation into the platform's role in spreading hate. An eSafety investigation into Grok could lead to penalties, but if app stores remain silent, the regulator may have limited power to act. Until then, it seems that X and its users will continue to be a contentious issue in Australia.
, right? On one hand, you've got these politicians and journalists getting exposed for posting on an app with such toxic content... I'm not gonna sit here and judge, though 
. We all make mistakes, and some of us just haven't been held accountable yet.
. And when you're a major platform like this, your influence can be HUGE 
. The fact that Apple hasn't spoken out on Tumblr or now X... I think it says more about their own priorities than anything else 
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, and if our regulators are gonna be quiet on this stuff, then how can we trust that the apps we're using to communicate with each other are actually safe? 
It feels like this whole situation's being let slip through our fingers 
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I'm really worried about what's going on with this X platform... it's like they're taking advantage of people's lack of self-regulation 
. I mean, we've seen some pretty disturbing stuff come out of that AI chatbot and yet our politicians are still lining up to use the platform. It's not exactly reassuring when our leaders are more concerned with getting their tweets out than with keeping people safe online 
. And what about all those journalists who can't even be bothered to leave the platform? 
. Until they address this issue, it's hard to take their concerns seriously when politicians use Grok to promote their own agendas. And what does this say for the users? Are they just tolerant of this kind of thing because it's 'allowed' on X?
. I mean, who wants to see or engage with sexually explicit content of women and children? It's just not cool at all 
. Now, with X having high levels of antisemitic posts and the Center for Countering Digital Hate report backing up those claims, I'm calling for an investigation into the platform's role in spreading hate 
. And don't even get me started on Elon Musk's algorithm 
Julie Inman Grant quitting is a good start, but we need more action on this front 
. And where are Apple and Google when it counts? 
. I'm all for an investigation into X's role in spreading hate 
. It's time to hold these tech giants accountable for their platform 
. It's like they're prioritizing their online presence over actually doing something to stop the harm.
They're always talking about how to regulate social media, but when it comes down to it, they're just as guilty of using X for clicks and views 
. The algorithm is designed to reward divisive content, so it's no wonder it's become a magnet for them.
, like Julie Inman Grant quitting her account. That says something about the platform's safety record, but what does it say about its users? If even the online safety regulator thinks X is an unsafe place, that's not exactly reassuring 
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. But what really gets my goat is that major tech companies are MIA on this whole thing... where was Apple when Tumblr got booted from the app store? Now they're just sitting back and letting X get away with this? It's not right 
Posting explicit content on X is like putting up a "For Sale" sign on your own reputation. They should be more concerned about the messaging they're sending to their constituents than trying to maintain an online presence.
. Newsflash: social media platforms are a reflection of their users' behavior. If Australia wants to tackle online hate and harassment, it needs to take a closer look at its own tech giants – or lack thereof 
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. This whole situation just makes me so angry 
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. She's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if it means losing her platform privileges. I wish more people could take a cue from her and prioritize online safety 
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. And what really gets me is how Apple and Google are MIA on this whole thing... Like, when Tumblr got taken down over consensual adult content, it was a big deal... But X just keeps getting a free pass? 