Elon Musk, a free speech advocate, threatens to sue researchers who revealed an increase in hate speech on X/Twitter since the takeover.

Elon Musk, a free speech advocate, threatens to sue researchers who revealed an increase in hate speech on X/Twitter since the takeover.

Twitter threatens legal action against research nonprofit

In a surprising turn of events, Twitter, now renamed as X, has threatened legal action against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) over their research into hate speech and content moderation. According to a letter sent by X’s attorney, the research publications by CCDH seem aimed at harming Twitter’s business by driving advertisers away with incendiary claims.

CCDH is a nonprofit organization based in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, regularly publishing reports on hate speech, extremism, and harmful behavior on various social media platforms, including X, TikTok, and Facebook.

One of the key criticisms leveled against X by CCDH is an increase in anti-LGBTQ hate speech and climate misinformation since Elon Musk’s purchase of the platform. The letter from X’s attorney specifically cited a report from June which found that the platform failed to remove neo-Nazi and anti-LGBTQ content from verified users, violating the platform’s rules.

Attorney Alex Spiro also questioned the expertise of the researchers at CCDH and accused the center of trying to damage X’s reputation. Additionally, the letter suggested, without evidence, that the center received funds from some of X’s competitors. It is worth noting that the CCDH has also published critical reports about TikTok, Facebook, and other major platforms.

Founder and CEO of CCDH, Imran Ahmed, expressed concern over X’s response, stating it could have a chilling effect on researchers studying the platform. Ahmed emphasized that this was an unprecedented escalation by a social media company against independent researchers, and if Musk succeeds in silencing them, other researchers could be next. According to Ahmed, the response from tech companies typically involves defending their work or promising to address any identified issues.

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This is not the first time Elon Musk has lashed out at critics. In the past, he suspended the accounts of journalists who covered his takeover of Twitter and permanently banned a user who tracked his private plane using publicly available flight data. Musk initially pledged to keep the user on the platform but later reversed his decision, citing personal safety concerns. He also threatened to sue the user.

In the face of criticism, Musk has claimed to be a free speech absolutist, allowing any speech on his platform that isn’t illegal. However, his recent actions contradict this stance. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff expressed concern over Musk’s threat of a lawsuit, stating that instead of attacking nonprofit groups holding social media platforms accountable, Musk should focus on addressing the disturbing content on Twitter.

The response from Twitter/X has sparked a broader conversation about the influence and power social media platforms have over research and free speech. With Musk’s open war against independent researchers, there are concerns about the potential chilling effect on future studies and the precedent set for other industries.

Ultimately, this clash between Twitter/X and CCDH highlights the ongoing challenges faced by social media platforms in properly moderating content and the delicate balance between free speech and regulation. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and whether it will lead to any significant changes in how platforms like Twitter/X handle hate speech and controversial content.

Messages left with Alex Spiro and Twitter/X were not immediately returned Monday.

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