Elon Musk's X Corp Appeals Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Anti-Hate Group

Elon Musk's X Corp, the company that owns the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has appealed the dismissal of its lawsuit against the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). X Corp filed a notice of appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, seeking to overturn the decision made by a U.S. court in April 2024 to dismiss the case.

The lawsuit, originally filed by X Corp, alleged that the CCDH engaged in a "malicious campaign" to undermine the company's business by faulting X for allowing hate speech to spread on the platform under Musk's ownership. However, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco rejected X's case on March 25, stating that it was "evident" that the social media platform sued the center to silence critics and penalize them for their speech.

X Corp claimed that the CCDH's research was scaring away advertisers, costing it tens of millions of dollars in revenue. Though Musk has positioned himself as a free-speech champion, Judge Breyer dismissed the case, prompting X Corp to appeal the decision.

Why this matters: The legal battle between X Corp and the CCDH highlights the ongoing challenges faced in addressing hate speech and misinformation on social media platforms. The outcome of the appeal will have significant implications for how such cases are handled in the digital age and raises questions about the effectiveness of current laws in regulating online content and protecting individuals and businesses from online attacks.

Musk, who is the world's third-richest person, bought Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 and also runs the electric car maker Tesla. The appeal process initiated by X Corp against the dismissal of the lawsuit could take several months or longer to resolve.

Key Takeaways

• Elon Musk's X Corp appeals dismissal of lawsuit against anti-hate group CCDH.
• X Corp alleged CCDH's research cost it millions in revenue by scaring off advertisers.
• Judge rejected X Corp's case, stating it aimed to silence critics and penalize their speech.
• Legal battle highlights challenges in addressing hate speech and misinformation on social media.