X Corp. takes legal action against researchers for reporting hate speech increase on platform.

OAN’s Noah⁢ Herring
9:59 AM – Monday, August 1, 2023

X, ​which was previously known as Twitter, has filed a lawsuit ‌against an organization⁤ that researches misinformation on social⁤ media, accusing it of illegally gaining access to the sites‍ “protected data.”

The social media platform, which was purchased by Elon Musk ​in ⁣2022, alleged that the Center⁣ for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) “engaged in a series of unlawful acts designed to improperly gain access to protected X Corp. data,” in a⁢ lawsuit that was filed Monday in U.S. District‌ Court ‌for the​ Northern District ‌of California.

The ⁢lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages, with⁤ interest, for allegations that include breach of contract, violation of the Computer ⁤Fraud and ‌Abuse Act, intentional interference with contractual relations and inducing breach of contract. ⁤It also asks for the CCDH and⁢ its agents ⁤to be banned from accessing materials licensed⁤ to a tool that⁤ X’s attorneys claimed the group used to⁤ obtain data.

An⁣ attorney representing X wrote to the CCDH on July 20^th, threatening a lawsuit due to the research⁤ published regarding the site’s hate speech and content ⁤moderation.

The⁤ letter also accused the⁣ organization of making “a series of troubling and baseless claims that appear calculated to harm X generally, and ⁢its digital advertising ​business specifically,” as well as receiving ⁤funds from some of X’s competitors to publish the ‌report.

Musk is a ⁣self-professed free⁤ speech advocate and has reinstated many banned accounts since ⁣his purchase of the company, ⁢including Former ​President ​Donald Trump. Despite the move to promote free ‌speech, far-left critics have attacked Musk for inciting⁢ hate speech and misinformation on the platform. ‌

“Elon Musk​ wants ⁣to silence his critics so he can⁢ continue to give‍ a megaphone to hate and misinformation while avoiding the consequences,” ⁢CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed⁤ posted on X.

The CCDH is a nonprofit organization that operates out of the U.S. and United Kingdom. ⁣The nonprofit regularly crafts reports on hate speech, extremism, or harmful behavior on social media platforms.

In ‍the​ past, the organization ‍has published several ​reports criticizing Musk’s leadership, ⁢highlighting a‍ reported increase⁤ in anti-LGBTQ hate speech as well as ⁣“climate misinformation” since his ⁢purchase of the site.

Ahmed⁤ has stated that he ⁢is worried about X’s response to the ⁣center’s work⁣ claiming it could ⁤frighten other ‌researchers away from studying‌ the social media⁢ platform. He ⁢also stated he is worried other social media sites will copy this strategy.

“This is an ⁤unprecedented⁣ escalation by a⁣ social media ‌company against​ independent researchers. Musk has just declared open ‍war,” ‌Ahmed told the Associated Press. ​“If Musk succeeds ⁢in silencing us other researchers will ⁣be next in‍ line.”

UPDATE (August 1, 2023, 9:59 a.m. PT): X Corp. is now suing the ⁤CCDH.

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts⁤ directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here.‌ https://www.oann.com/alerts

with Peter J. Brown, ​USCG (Ret.)

with Anne O’Connor

with Isabel Brown

By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters)⁣ – U.S. senators⁣ Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, and Lindsey ‍Graham, a Republican, said on Thursday they would…

By⁢ Tom ⁢Bateman ⁤and Rocky Swift TOKYO (Reuters) – As Japan ⁣enjoys ⁤a post-pandemic⁤ resurgence in tourism from ⁤around the globe, Seibu…

(Reuters) – Dell​ Technologies on Monday launched new‌ generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) solutions in​ collaboration⁤ with ⁣Nvidia whose chips enable ‍the technology… ⁢

(Reuters) –⁣ Dell Technologies on ‌Monday launched new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) solutions in collaboration with Nvidia whose ⁢chips enable the technology… ‌