Australia's Federal Court has ruled that X Corp, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, must pay a $650,000 fine for noncompliance with a child protection order. The case stemmed from an eSafety commission request made in early 2023, which required major tech companies to disclose their strategies for combating child exploitation content on their platforms.

The court's decision comes after a contentious three-year legal saga. Judge Michael Wheelahan noted that X Corp had 45 days to comply with the payment and an additional $100,000 to cover legal fees incurred by the eSafety commissioner. The court highlighted that the company had admitted to violating the provisions of Australia’s Online Safety Act, stating it had been in ongoing noncompliance for over 38 days.

The original notice was issued to Twitter in February 2023, shortly before it merged with X. X Corp argued against its obligation to comply, claiming that Twitter no longer existed as a legal entity. However, these arguments were dismissed by the court last year.

Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety commissioner, emphasized the necessity for tech companies to engage in "meaningful transparency" regarding their measures against harmful content. In her statements following the ruling, she stressed the importance of public accountability for how these platforms address child safety issues.

Moreover, Inman Grant has faced public backlash from Musk, who labeled her as an "unelected bureaucrat" in response to her demands for increased transparency and compliance. This tension has reportedly led to personal threats against her and her family.

X Corp's refusal to comply with earlier fines led to the escalation of this final ruling, heightening scrutiny on Musk’s platform and its responsibilities toward user safety.