<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A win for free speech in Australia." </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is what Elon Musk's lawyers have said after overturning government orders blocking a post claiming transgender people belonged in a mental institution. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Musk's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and Canadian activist Christopher Elston have been in a legal battle with the eSafety Commissioner. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pheobe-bishop-alleged-murder-third-person-charged/720df7e5-310b-4cd7-ba96-42bb6cc7710f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Third person charged in relation to Pheobe Bishop's alleged murder</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Elston reposted a </span><em><span>Daily Mail</span></em><span> article in February last year about Australian transgender man Teddy Cook and his appointment by the World Health Organisation to advise on issues of transgender and non-binary people's health.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the post, Elston called Cook a female and said trans people "belong in psychiatric wards".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When Cook came across the post, he made a complaint to the eSafety Commissioner, which moved to block the post. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/elon-musk-victory-in-war-on-strict-australian-web-laws/2c6a7cd5-a78e-43c5-8e7d-7db30564e42d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Elston's words were degrading to Cook and the broader transgender community, the online regulator said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The activist's X account allegedly had more than 395,000 followers and the post was viewed 377,000 times and reposted 6000 times in less than a fortnight. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After X and Elston challenged the notice, the Administrative Review Tribunal was asked to determine whether an everyday person would consider the post as cyberabuse. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tribunal member Damien O'Donovan found late on Tuesday that the post did not intend to cause serious harm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, he found the ordinary person would take away that transgender people belong in a psychiatric ward.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The post, although phrased offensively, is consistent with views Mr Elston has expressed elsewhere in circumstances where the expression of the view had no malicious intent," O'Donovan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jury-reaches-verdict-on-4-of-5-counts-in-diddy-trial-but-is-told-to-keep-deliberating/37e10ac5-87f8-4e4c-82af-16d3dcad6065" target="_blank"><strong><span>Jury reaches verdict on four of five counts in Diddy trial</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/elon-musk-donald-trump-fighting-again-doge-investigation-big-beautiful-bill/7967c32b-2ea2-4077-8d58-d209afaa3efd" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump admits he'll 'take a look' at deporting Musk</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>X, through its lawyers at Thomson Geer, welcomed the decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is another example of the eSafety Commissioner overreaching in her role and making politically motivated decisions to moderate what she considers Australians should and shouldn't read and hear from the outside world."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Elston said the decision sends a clear message to the government that it "does not have the authority to silence peaceful expression".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the tribunal hearing, lawyers for Elston denied he intended to cause serious harm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Canadian said he didn't know Cook, reposted public information and usually misgendered people in his posts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A spokesperson for the eSafety Commissioner noted the decision saying the regulator would continue to take seriously the responsibility of amending harms and protecting Australians.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The decision is the most recent chapter in a long-running legal battle between the social media giant and online safety regulator. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In May, the commissioner took X to court wanting the platform to do more to keep Australians safe online. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The regulator also issued a penalty of $610,500 to the social media giant in February 2023, alleging it failed to adequately respond to questions about how it tackled harmful content on its platform, including child sexual abuse material.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>X is disputing the fine. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Support is available by calling Lifeline 13 11 14 or Fullstop Australia on 1800 385 578.</span></strong></em></div></div>