Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, has called Elon Musk an "arrogant billionaire" after a row over social network X's reluctance to remove footage of a church stabbing.
On Monday, an Australian court ordered Musk's company, known as Twitter, to remove footage of last week's attack in Sydney.
Iks previously said they would comply "pending a legal challenge".
The prime minister's criticism came after Musk accused the Australian government of censorship using a mime (a humorous internet image).
On Tuesday, Albanez told ABC News that Musk "thinks he is above the law, but also above basic decency."
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Last week, Australia's Internet Safety Commissioner, an independent regulatory body, threatened Ixa and other social media-owned companies with heavy fines if they did not remove footage of a stabbing at the Assyrian Church of Christ the Good Shepherd, which police characterized as a terrorist attack.
Xx said the order was "not within Australian law".
The commissioner sought an injunction, saying it was clear that X was still allowing users outside Australia to access the footage.
"I find it incredible that X decided not to comply and try to argue their case," Albanez said at a press conference.
In a subsequent series of online posts, Musk wrote: "I'd like to take a moment to thank the Prime Minister for letting the public know that this platform is the only true one."
Another post showed a Wizard of Oz-style path to "freedom" leading to the X logo.
He previously criticized Internet Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, describing her as "Australia's censorship commissioner".
The Prime Minister defended her, saying she was protecting Australians.
"Social networks must have a social responsibility towards it. Mr. Musk is not showing it," he said.
Monday's ban will be in effect until close of business on Wednesday, when a second hearing is scheduled to take place.
X and the Internet Safety Commissioner are already involved in legal action over the platform's alleged failure to provide information about how it monitors and removes child abuse material online.
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