Twitter Threatens Lawsuit Against Nonprofit Researching Hate Speech and Misinformation

Elon Musk's Legal Battle with Nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate

Twitter Threatens Lawsuit Against CCDH

Twitter, now known as X Corp., has sent a letter to the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a British research nonprofit, threatening legal action. The social media giant alleges that CCDH has made false and inflammatory claims about Twitter, including conspiring to drive advertisers away from the platform. The letter follows CCDH's research that examined hate speech on Twitter since Elon Musk's buyout. CCDH's findings showed that X Corp. failed to take action on a significant percentage of reported hate speech.

The Propagation of Hate Speech

CCDH's research revealed concerning statistics about hate speech on Twitter. In one study, which focused on 100 Twitter Blue accounts, CCDH found that X Corp. failed to address 99% of hate posts from these accounts. This raises questions about the effectiveness of Twitter's algorithms in promoting toxic and harmful content. Additionally, CCDH discovered that X Corp. did not act on 89% of anti-Jewish hate speech and 97% of anti-Muslim hate speech reported on the platform.

Response from X Corp.

As of now, X Corp. has not responded to requests for comment regarding the letter sent to CCDH. However, Elon Musk recently acknowledged that Twitter's cash flow remains negative, with a significant drop in advertising revenue. This could be a contributing factor to the company's response to CCDH's research.

CCDH's CEO Speaks Out

Imran Ahmed, CEO of CCDH, released a statement criticizing Elon Musk's actions and accusing him of trying to silence criticism and independent research. Ahmed pointed out that advertisers are leaving Twitter because of Musk's support for hate and racism on the platform. He emphasized that this should dispel any notion that Musk is a "free speech absolutist."

Other Legal Issues Faced by X Corp.

This letter threatening legal action against CCDH is not the only legal challenge X Corp. has faced recently. In May, the company sent a letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, alleging that the tech giant misused Twitter data for unauthorized purposes. Furthermore, X Corp. threatened to sue Meta over its Threads app, claiming the misappropriation of trade secrets and intellectual property. Lastly, X Corp. filed a lawsuit against the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz for preventing Musk from backing out of his Twitter buyout.

Conclusion: Impact on New Business

The ongoing legal battle between Elon Musk's company, X Corp., and the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) is shining a spotlight on the issue of hate speech on social media platforms, particularly Twitter. This raises concerns for new businesses that rely on social media advertising and online presence to establish and grow their customer base. The accusations made by CCDH against X Corp. regarding the propagation of hate speech on Twitter, along with Twitter's alleged failure to address a significant percentage of reported hate speech, highlight the potential risks associated with advertising on platforms that are not effectively addressing hate speech and harmful content. This indicates that new businesses relying on Twitter's advertising services may face challenges in maintaining a positive brand image and reaching their target audience if hate speech continues to go unchecked. Furthermore, the legal battles faced by X Corp. against other tech giants, such as Microsoft and Meta, also raise concerns about the stability and trustworthiness of the platform. If new businesses choose to advertise on Twitter, they may question the platform's ability to protect their data and intellectual property rights, potentially leading to hesitancy in investing resources in Twitter advertising campaigns. Moreover, CCDH's CEO's criticism of Elon Musk's support for hate and racism on the platform further adds to the potential negative perception of Twitter as a viable advertising platform. Advertisers may rethink their association with Twitter if it is viewed as a breeding ground for hate speech, which could impact the reach and success of new businesses relying on the platform for promotion. In conclusion, the legal battle between X Corp. and CCDH, along with the wider issue of hate speech on Twitter, may impact new businesses by influencing their decision to invest in Twitter advertising and raising concerns about the platform's reputation and ability to effectively address harmful content. Article First Published at: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/31/musks-twitter/x-threatens-suit-against-nonprofit-studying-hate-speech.html