Introduction
In a recent development, Elon Musk’s social network, X, has lost a lawsuit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). The federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, stating that it was evident the litigation was intended to punish CCDH for criticizing X Corp. This ruling comes after the nonprofit research group reported a substantial increase in hate speech, racism, and disinformation on X/Twitter since Musk acquired the company.
X’s Lawsuit and CCDH’s Response
X had filed the lawsuit against CCDH in July 2023, blaming the organization for significant losses in advertising revenue due to their reports on hate speech and misinformation on the social platform. However, lawyers for CCDH quickly filed a motion to strike X’s claims under California’s law against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) and a motion to dismiss the case entirely.
The Court’s Ruling and Judge’s Statement
District Court Judge Charles Breyer denied Musk and X Corp.’s request to re-plead the case, ultimately granting CCDH’s motion to strike and dismiss. Additionally, a motion by Stichting European Climate Foundation, named as a defendant, was also granted to have X’s claims against it dismissed. Judge Breyer wrote in his ruling, “This case represents the latter circumstance. This case is about punishing the Defendants for their speech.” He further clarified that X Corp’s true concern seems to be CCDH’s speech rather than their data collection methods.
The Purpose and Motivation Behind the Lawsuit
The judge noted that X Corp.’s motivation in bringing this case is evident. They aimed to punish CCDH for their critical publications about X Corp., potentially dissuading others from engaging in such criticism. However, X Corp. has not stated that CCDH’s publications are defamatory, which raises questions about the true intent behind the lawsuit.
Conclusion
The lawsuit between Elon Musk’s X and the Center for Countering Digital Hate has come to a close, with the court ruling in favor of CCDH. Despite X’s claims of lost revenue and alleged unauthorized access to data, the judge found that the primary objective of the lawsuit was to silence criticism. CCDH remains confident in the quality and integrity of their research and advocacy, aiming to shed light on corporate failures that undermine human rights and civil liberties.
Find the full judge’s order here.
Source: F5 Magazine