The Australian classification review board has overturned a decision that blocked Australians from viewing footage of the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk on social media, following an appeal by Elon Musk’s platform X.

After Kirk was killed at Utah Valley University on 10 September, the eSafety commissioner applied to the board to have the video of the shooting classified in Australia.

The footage was initially “refused classification,” allowing the eSafety commissioner to order social media platforms to geo-block the videos from Australian users.

X appealed the ruling for two separate Kirk videos, as well as a ruling on another video deemed refused classification, the attack on Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August. X was successful in all cases.

In the Kirk appeal, X argued that the video contained brief violence, no visible weapon, and quickly moved the camera away from the victim to the crowd.

The platform described the footage as a neutral record of a “notorious public event of historical and political significance” and compared it to the JFK assassination video.

The majority of the review board agreed that while the event was heinous, the video was not gratuitous, exploitative, or offensive enough to justify refusal of classification.

The board reclassified the videos as R18+.

A minority disagreed, arguing the video could be shared for entertainment or personal gain and should not be compared to the JFK footage, which was released years later when public emotions had cooled.

X welcomed the decision, stating it fought the case “to uphold free speech and the importance of access to information about matters of public significance.”

The eSafety commissioner also welcomed the ruling, noting that platforms now have obligations to prevent R18+ material from being displayed to Australians under 18.

The regulator has not issued notices about footage from the Bondi Beach terror attack, saying that while the content is distressing, it does not meet the threshold for refusal of classification.

Platforms have been advised to add sensitive content warnings and blurring where appropriate.