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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.

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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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