X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has filed a lawsuit against the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, alleging that the non-profit organization’s work highlighting an increase in hate speech on the platform has cost the company millions of dollars in advertising revenue. The suit claims that the centre violationed X’s terms of service by improperly collecting a vast amount of data for its analysis, and that it even accessed internal Twitter data using log-on credentials obtained from an employee at a separate company.
The centre, which publishes reports on hate speech, extremism, and harmful behavior on social media platforms, has published several critical reports on X, detailing an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech and climate misinformation since Elon Musk’s takeover. X alleges that the centre receives funding from foreign governments and media companies with ties to “legacy media organisations” that view X as a rival, but the centre denies these claims, saying it receives no funding from government entities or tech companies that could be considered competitors to X.
The centre’s founder and CEO, Imran Ahmed, has defended the organization’s work, accusing Elon Musk of using the lawsuit to silence criticism of his leadership and research into the role X plays in spreading misinformation and hate speech. Ahmed claims that Musk is trying to “shoot the messenger” rather than address the toxic environment created on the platform.
Elon Musk (Via Elon Musk/Twitter)
X’s suit claims that the centre’s work has cost the company tens of millions of dollars in lost ad revenue, but Ahmed argues that the centre’s research has highlighted the need for accountability and transparency from social media companies. The centre’s 2021 tax forms show it took in $1.4 million in revenue, with several large charities listed as donors, but the identities of other donors are not revealed in public documents.
Musk has made a name for himself as a self-proclaimed free speech absolutist, welcoming back white supremacists and election deniers to the platform, but has also proven sensitive about critical speech directed at him or his companies. The lawsuit against the centre could have significant implications for researchers and advocacy groups seeking to understand the impact of social media on society and culture.
