Musk threatens to sue researchers who documented the rise in hateful tweets
apnews.com
A nonprofit organization that researches links between social media, hate and extremism has been threatened with a lawsuit by X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Twitter is threatening legal action against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that researches hate speech and content moderation on social media platforms.

The letter from Twitter’s lawyers alleges that CCDH’s research publications are intended to ‘harm Twitter’s business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims.’

This is a pretty bold move from Twitter, especially considering that CCDH is a well-respected organization that has been doing this kind of research for years. And it’s especially ironic coming from Elon Musk, who has said that he’s a ‘free speech absolutist.’

But Musk has also shown that he’s sensitive to criticism, so it’s not surprising that he’s taking this kind of action against CCDH

  • MSids@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    14·
    11 months ago

    If they go to court, wouldn’t the court make them prove that the claim was false or defamation? And if CCDH can prove that it’s not false or defamation then now it’s legal record that hate speech has increased since the takeover? This all seems ok with me.

    • Comment105@lemm.eeEnglish
      101·
      11 months ago

      That’s not how the American court system works.

      A company like Twitter can bleed the CCDH dry and just walk away with a frivolous lawsuit and a minor (insignificant) penalty.

      And the way that works is not by accident.

    • DreamlandLividity@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      11 months ago

      In a defamation lawsuit, it would not be X that had to prove it was a lie. It would be CCDH that had to prove it had evidence for their claims (notice that it does not need to be true, only has to be reasonable for CCDH to believe it is true based on evidence they had).

  • dinckel@lemmy.worldEnglish
    14·
    11 months ago

    Free speech, but until something goes wrong. Then it’s totalitarian government

  • Red_October@lemmy.worldEnglish
    13·
    11 months ago

    Elon used to love saying he was a Free Speech Absolutist, but once again that only extends to speech he likes.

    • crapwittyname@lemm.eeEnglish
      7·
      11 months ago

      I love it. The gist is:

      • hate speech is running rampant on your platform.
      • you’re doing nothing to stop it.
      • here’s our evidence.
      • where’s your e idence?
      • why are you spending time and money on fighting us instead of on fighting the literal white supremacist death threats on your platform?
      • telling us we’ve not sampled enough tweets while you’re in the process of making impossible the mass sampling of tweets is…a bit rich.
      • we’re not intimidated by your threats
      • your threats are also bullshit
      • we’re not gonna stop

      It’s a textbook example of “no u” in grown up language. Bravo.

      • Mrs_deWinter@feddit.deEnglish
        5·
        11 months ago

        Not to mention how it starts with

        “We write in response to the ridiculous letter you sent our clients on behalf of X Corp.”

        They are not taking any BS. I love it.

      • eestileib@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        4·
        11 months ago

        Legal snark is by far the most expensive brand of humor, but when it’s deployed on your behalf it’s so goddamn satisfying.

        During a hearing in my divorce, I answered a question from the judge, the other lawyer says “we can’t have hearsay in this discussion”, my lawyer responds “well this will be a short hearing then because everything in your client’s motion is hearsay”.

        That little snap cost me about $15 but it was worth it.

    • Treczoks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      11 months ago

      The best part of it:

      If your clients do file suit, please be advised that CCDH intends to seek immediate discovery regarding hate speech and misinformation on the Twitter platform; Twitter’s policies and practices relating to these issues; and Twitter’s advertising revenue. In that event, a court will determine for itself the truth of the statements in our client’s report in accordance with the time-tested rules of civil procedure and evidence.

      Now that is a nuclear statement in a lawyers letter…

    • Dima@lemmy.oneEnglish
      4·
      11 months ago

      I love that this is a legal letter and yet contains the very direct phrase:

      That threat is bogus and you know it.

  • iegod@lemm.eeEnglish
    7·
    11 months ago

    Evidence based documentation is going to be hard to win against, unless the plan is just drag them through legal proceedings until they can’t afford it. The american dream.

    • Rhabuko@feddit.deEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      Wouldn’t surprise me if in this case enough people would donate. Enough people are sick of Musk at this point.

  • 😈MedicPig🐷BabySaver😈@lemm.eeEnglish
    6·
    11 months ago

    Mush (sic) is a true POS. I am incredibly glad i changed my mind on a pre-order down payment on the Tesla 3.

    • It’s front end is ugly AF.

    • Mush balls showed how removed he is.

  • thorbot@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    11 months ago

    I think Elon’s rebranding from “twitter” to “X, The Social Media Platform Formerly Known As Twitter” was really smart. You know what, I am gonna go XTSMPFKAST-eet that right now! Obviously the branding was the weakest part of the product he bought!

  • Smoogs@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    11 months ago

    Wasn’t he all about free speech and even against censorship?

    “ I think if you go down the censorship route, it’s only a matter of time before censorship is turned upon you.” -musk

  • tenitchyfingers@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    “Free speech for me, not for thee”. God, I’m THIS close to deleting my account there and just migrating back to Tumblr and bluesky. There are just too many users I love that haven’t moved anywhere else yet.