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Elon Musk, tech billionaire and owner of the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) has announced plans to file a lawsuit against Media Matters for America and other entities, accusing them of orchestrating a “fraudulent attack on our company.” This declaration follows the withdrawal of several major companies from advertising on X, with the exodus beginning after Musk was accused of engaging in antisemitic rhetoric on the platform.
Media Matters, a liberal media watchdog, published a report showing that ads from prominent advertisers were being displayed alongside white supremacist content.
In response to the advertising departures, Musk declared on X that a “thermonuclear lawsuit” against Media Matters and collaborators would be filed, alleging a deliberate misrepresentation of the platform’s user experience. Musk’s statement criticized the watchdog’s report, claiming it manipulated views to present a skewed image of ad placements alongside objectionable content. He noted that out of billions of ad impressions on X daily, only a minuscule fraction appeared next to the content highlighted by Media Matters.
X has faced revenue challenges since Musk’s acquisition in late 2022, with many top advertisers leaving amid concerns over his approach to content moderation. Despite this, Musk has consistently promoted X as a bastion of free speech, a stance reiterated in the company’s recent statement. “Without freedom of speech, we lose the checks and balances critical to a thriving democracy,” the company emphasized, defending its commitment to free expression.
Media Matters, however, has dismissed Musk’s lawsuit threat, with its president Angelo Carusone asserting Musk’s actions contradict his free speech advocacy and vowing to win in case of a lawsuit.
