Elon Musk’s X takes hate speech watchdog to court
Breaking News: February 29, 2024 – 4:33 AM PST
(Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Thursday will consider whether to dismiss X Corp’s lawsuit against a nonprofit that has criticized a rise in hate speech on the social media platform once known as Twitter since Elon Musk took it over.
X sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate last July, accusing it of trying to “scare” advertisers away by claiming that Musk was doing little to stop hate speech, racist posts and other misinformation from overwhelming the platform.
According to X, the nonprofit improperly scraped and cherry-picked data to create false and misleading reports, hoping to silence those it disagreed with on hotly disputed topics such as COVID-19 vaccines, reproductive health and climate change.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate countered that it was Musk, a self-proclaimed free speech absolutist, who was attempting the silencing.
The center said it was not liable for how advertisers reacted to its non-defamatory reports about publicly available content on X, and that the lawsuit violated California’s so-called anti-SLAPP law, or strategic lawsuits against public participation.
The nonprofit also denied X’s claim that commercial rivals and perhaps foreign governments were bankrolling its efforts.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco will consider the dismissal request at a hearing. It was unclear whether he would rule immediately.
The European Climate Foundation, which promotes efforts to mitigate climate change, is also a defendant.
Musk, the world’s second-richest person, bought Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022.
He has since faced much criticism for firing too many people at X who policed misinformation, and for allowing more harmful and abusive posts.
Musk in November 2023 endorsed an antisemitic post on X that said members of the Jewish community were stoking hatred against white people, saying the user was speaking “the actual truth.”
He has denied being antisemitic and sought to make amends for his post. In January he visited former Nazi death camp Auschwitz in southern Poland.
Advertisers have fled X since Musk bought it and reduced content moderation that has resulted in a dramatic increase in hate speech on X, civil rights groups have said.
Musk is also chief executive of electric vehicle maker Tesla (TSLA.O), which has faced several lawsuits claiming it tolerated harassment of workers.
The case is X Corp v. Center for Countering Digital Hate Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 23-03836.
Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang
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What are the legal implications of X Corp’s lawsuit against the nonprofit organization for its criticism of hate speech on Twitter?
Title: U.S. Judge to Consider Dismissal of X Corp’s Lawsuit Against Nonprofit Over Hate Speech on Twitter
Introduction:
In a groundbreaking legal battle, a U.S. judge will soon decide whether to dismiss X Corp’s lawsuit against a nonprofit organization that has been critical of the rise in hate speech on the social media platform known as Twitter since it was taken over by Elon Musk. The case, which has attracted significant attention, raises important questions about the responsibility of social media platforms in moderating content and the limits of free speech.
Background:
X Corp filed a lawsuit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate in July, accusing the nonprofit of attempting to scare away advertisers by claiming that Musk was doing little to address hate speech, racist posts, and misinformation on the platform. X Corp alleges that the nonprofit unlawfully scraped and selectively used data to create false and misleading reports with the intention of silencing individuals with differing opinions on contentious topics such as COVID-19 vaccines, reproductive health, and climate change.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate, on the other hand, argues that Musk himself, an advocate of free speech, is attempting to stifle dissenting voices. They maintain that the reports they publish about publicly available content on X Corp are non-defamatory and that they cannot be held accountable for how advertisers respond to them. Furthermore, the nonprofit claims that the lawsuit infringes on California’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects against strategic lawsuits aimed at suppressing public participation.
Legal Considerations:
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco is tasked with evaluating the request for dismissal. Although it remains uncertain whether he will make an immediate ruling, the outcome of this legal battle will undoubtedly have significant implications for the future of social media platforms and their accountability for the content they host.
The European Climate Foundation, an organization dedicated to mitigating climate change, is also a defendant in this lawsuit.
Controversies Surrounding Elon Musk:
Elon Musk, the world’s second-richest person, acquired Twitter in October 2022 for a staggering $44 billion. Since then, he has faced widespread criticism for his alleged mishandling of content moderation. Musk has been accused of firing too many employees responsible for monitoring misinformation and permitting harmful and abusive posts on the platform.
In November 2023, Musk endorsed an anti-Semitic post on Twitter, claiming that members of the Jewish community were fueling hatred against white people. Although he has denied being anti-Semitic and attempted to make amends for his statement, this incident has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding his role as the owner of Twitter.
Conclusion:
As technology continues to evolve, the responsibility of social media platforms to curb hate speech, misinformation, and abusive content has come under increased scrutiny. The ongoing legal battle between X Corp and the Center for Countering Digital Hate serves as a pivotal moment in determining the extent to which platforms should be held accountable for the content they host. Judge Breyer’s ruling will undoubtedly shape the future of free speech and regulation on social media platforms.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the information available at the time of writing and subject to changes and developments in the legal proceedings.
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