Martin Sellner, founder of the Identitarian Movement, advocates for the superiority of European ethnic groups and was banned from Twitter in 2020
An Austrian far-right figure, who had interactions with the Christchurch terrorist and received donations from him before the 2019 attack, has had his account on the platform X restored. Elon Musk, the owner of X, replied to one of his tweets.
Martin Sellner, the founder of the Identitarian Movement promoting the superiority of European ethnic groups, was banned from Twitter in 2020, along with numerous other accounts associated with the movement, under the previous management. This action was taken amid criticism of the platform’s approach to extremist content.
In 2019, Austrian authorities conducted searches related to Martin Sellner on suspicion of his alleged cooperation with Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch terrorist, and involvement in a terrorist organization. Sellner has denied any involvement in the attack.
It was disclosed that Brenton Tarrant had donated €1,500 (A$2,487) to Martin Sellner’s Identitarian organization. The two also exchanged amicable emails in 2018, with Sellner inviting Tarrant to join him for a beer or coffee if he ever visited Austria.
Although Tarrant did visit Austria in 2018, Sellner denies that they ever met.
Sellner expressed gratitude towards Musk for reinstating his X account last week. His account now features a blue tick, which is associated with paid accounts, and has amassed 51,000 followers.
“I’m pleased and thankful to be back on Twitter/X. I’d like to give special thanks to Musk for making this platform more inclusive again,” he stated, as per an English translation of his tweet. “I hope this trend continues, and that everyone else who has been banned can return as well.”
Following Sellner’s post about Swiss police shutting down an event where he was speaking in the canton of Aargau and his subsequent two-month ban from Aargau, Musk replied, “Is this legal?”
Last month, reports surfaced that Germany was contemplating banning Sellner from entering the country.
According to Dr. Josh Roose, an extremism expert at Deakin University, Sellner’s account is just one of many far-right accounts, including that of the leader of the National Socialist Network in Australia, that have been reinstated on X under Musk’s leadership.
“Coincidentally, all of them, in some way, shape, or form, interacted with Brenton,” he remarked.
As these groups have returned and been reinstated on the platform, they now follow each other’s accounts and have established international connections. This has facilitated the movement in building links and contacts.”
X has been approached for comment. In a spirited interview with former CNN anchor Don Lemon this week, Musk defended the decision to keep several antisemitic and racist posts on the platform, arguing that they were not illegal.
“So, Don, you support censorship, is that what you’re saying?” Musk retorted.
Lemon responded that he believed in moderation, to which Musk replied: “Moderation is a term used to justify censorship.”
“If a post is illegal, ‘we’re going to take it down,'” Musk stated, emphasizing that if it does not violate the law, “we’re putting our thumb on the scale or being censors.”
Roose noted that while this stance might align with Musk’s interpretation of freedom of speech in the US, the accounts were initially removed for spreading hate and attempting to incite fear online, and nothing has changed.
“While it’s not unexpected, it simply indicates… it’s an enabling force that offers these movements a platform to propagate hate.”
In January, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, disclosed that, based on data provided by X between November 2022 and May 2023, X had reinstated 6,103 Australian accounts, including 194 that had been suspended for violating X’s then-existing hateful conduct policy.
“A number of these reinstated users were previously banned for online hate,” Inman Grant stated at the time. “If you let the worst offenders back on while at the same time significantly reducing trust and safety personnel… there are clear concerns about the implications for the safety of users.”
X was among half a dozen tech platforms issued legal notices this week by Australia’s online safety regulator, inquiring about their actions against extremist and terror-related content on their platforms. Grant mentioned that the video from the Christchurch massacre was still circulating online.
The platforms may face fines if they fail to respond to the notices within 49 days.
Roose noted that governments were hesitant to take substantial action. While there was speculation about Australia possibly following the US in banning TikTok over security concerns, there was no real threat of X being banned for failing to address extremism on the platform, based on the outcomes of eSafety’s notices.
“It boils down to the willingness to take decisive action, driven by leadership and a grasp of fundamental principles of citizenship. Online behavior that goes unchecked contrasts with the standards of accountability we uphold in real life, and this undermines democracy, which is built on mutual respect and acknowledgment.”