San Francisco judge dismisses X’s lawsuit against hate speech watchdog
The decision comes amidst declining user numbers for X, according to recent data from Sensor Tower, raising questions about the platform’s future.
The US District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco dismissed a lawsuit brought by social media company X against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). X accused CCDH of running a ‘scare campaign’ to drive away advertisers by highlighting a surge in hate speech since Elon Musk’s ownership.
Judge Breyer granted a dismissal request, suggesting X targeted CCDH for personal reasons rather than genuine concerns about data collection. Additionally, updated data from Sensor Tower suggests a decline in X’s daily active users in the US and globally since Musk took over. Meanwhile, other social media platforms globally saw modest growth. They also witnessed declines in the US, albeit not as significant as those observed for X.
The decrease in X’s user numbers correlates with CCDH’s revelations regarding hate speech, although technical issues might have also played a role. Despite X disputing Sensor Tower’s data, it still needs to adequately address criticism. The ongoing loss of users and advertisers could signal a diminishing relevance for X.
Why does it matter?
Since acquiring Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, Elon Musk has faced widespread criticism for downsizing staff who monitored misinformation and allowed harmful posts. His remarks have also sparked controversy, notably his endorsement of an antisemitic post on X in November 2023. However, he has denied being antisemitic and has attempted to reconcile by visiting Auschwitz in January.
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