Musk threatens to sue researchers who documented the rise in hateful tweets
WASHINGTON –
X, the social media platform previously often called Twitter, has threatened to sue a gaggle of impartial researchers whose analysis documented a rise in hate speech on the positioning because it was bought final yr by Elon Musk.
An lawyer representing the social media web site wrote to the Center for Countering Digital Hate on July 20 threatening authorized motion over the nonprofit’s analysis into hate speech and content material moderation. The letter alleged that CCDH’s analysis publications appear supposed “to harm Twitter’s business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims.”
Musk is a self-professed free speech absolutist who has welcomed again white supremacists and election deniers to the platform, which he renamed X earlier this month. But the billionaire has at occasions confirmed delicate about vital speech directed at him or his firms.
The middle is a nonprofit with workplaces within the U.S. and United Kingdom. It repeatedly publishes experiences on hate speech, extremism or dangerous conduct on social media platforms like X, TikTok or Facebook.
The group has revealed a number of experiences vital of Musk’s management, detailing a rise in anti-LGBTQ hate speech in addition to local weather misinformation since his buy. The letter from X’s lawyer cited one particular report from June that discovered the platform didn’t take away neo-Nazi and anti-LGBTQ content material from verified customers that violated the platform’s guidelines.
In the letter, lawyer Alex Spiro questioned the experience of the researchers and accused the middle of making an attempt to hurt X’s repute. The letter additionally advised, with out proof, that the middle obtained funds from a few of X’s rivals, though the middle has additionally revealed vital experiences about TikTok, Facebook and different massive platforms.
“CCDH intends to harm Twitter’s business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims,” Spiro wrote, utilizing the platform’s former title.
Imran Ahmed, the middle’s founder and CEO, instructed the AP on Monday that his group has by no means obtained the same response from any tech firm, regardless of a historical past of learning the connection between social media, hate speech and extremism. He stated that sometimes, the targets of the middle’s criticism have responded by defending their work or promising to handle any issues which have been recognized.
Ahmed stated he nervous X’s response to the middle’s work may have a chilling impact if it frightens different researchers away from learning the platform. He stated he additionally nervous that different industries may be aware of the technique.
“This is an unprecedented escalation by a social media company against independent researchers. Musk has just declared open war,” Ahmed instructed the Associated Press. “If Musk succeeds in silencing us other researchers will be next in line.”
Messages left with Spiro and X weren’t instantly returned Monday.
It’s not the primary time that Musk has fired again at critics. Last yr, he suspended the accounts of a number of journalists who lined his takeover of Twitter. Another person was suspended for utilizing publicly accessible flight information to trace Musk’s personal aircraft; Musk had initially pledged to maintain the person on the platform however later modified his thoughts, citing his private security. He additionally threatened to sue the person earlier than permitting him again on the platform beneath sure restrictions.
He initially had promised that he would permit any speech on his platform that wasn’t unlawful. “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means,” Musk wrote in a tweet final yr.
X’s latest risk of a lawsuit prompted concern from U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who stated the billionaire was making an attempt to make use of the specter of authorized motion to punish a nonprofit group making an attempt to carry a strong social media platform accountable.
“Instead of attacking them, he should be attacking the increasingly disturbing content on Twitter,” Schiff stated in an announcement.
