Elon Musk's X Sues Watchdog Media Matters For Defamation

Elon Musk s X sued the watchdog group Media Matters for America for defamation on Monday after the nonprofit published a report about ads for major brands appearing alongside posts touting Nazism.

Media Matters first published details Thursday about the spread of Nazi-related content on the social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, saying X had been placing ads for major brands, including Apple, IBM and Comcasts Xfinity, next to offending content. The research group published screenshots of posts praising Hitler that ran adjacent to the ads shortly after Musk seemed to endorse an antisemitic conspiracy theory on the site.

The report prompted a fresh wave of criticism for X, and many advertisers suspended their ad buys.

But X claimed in the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas that Media Matters knowingly and maliciously manufactured an account that manipulated the companys algorithm to see offending content.

Undeterred by the truth, Media Matters has opted for new tactics in its campaign to drive advertisers from X, the suit says. Media Matters has manipulated the algorithms governing the user experience on X to bypass safeguards and create images of Xs largest advertisers paid posts adjacent to racist, incendiary content, leaving the false impression that these pairings are anything but what they actually are: manufactured, inorganic, and extraordinarily rare.

Media Matters rejected the lawsuits claims.

This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully Xs critics into silence. Media Matters stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court, Angelo Carusone, the watchdogs president, said in a statement. Onward!

This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully Xs critics into silence. Media Matters stands behind its reporting and look forward to winning in court.

Onward!

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This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully Xs critics into silence. Media Matters stands behind its reporting and look forward to winning in court.

Onward!
Angelo Carusone (@GoAngelo) November 21, 2023

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, rejected Media Matters response in her own statement Monday, reiterating the company stance that X remains a safe platform for users and advertisers.

If you know me, you know Im committed to truth and fairness, she wrote. Heres the truth. Not a single authentic user on X saw IBMs, Comcasts, or Oracles ads next to the content in Media Matters article. Only 2 users saw Apples ad next to the content, at least one of which was Media Matters. Data wins over manipulation or allegations. Dont be manipulated. Stand with X.

If you know me, you know I'm committed to truth and fairness. Here's the truth. Not a single authentic user on X saw IBMs, Comcasts, or Oracles ads next to the content in Media Matters article. Only 2 users saw Apples ad next to the content, at least one of which was Media

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If you know me, you know I'm committed to truth and fairness. Here's the truth. Not a single authentic user on X saw IBMs, Comcasts, or Oracles ads next to the content in Media Matters article. Only 2 users saw Apples ad next to the content, at least one of which was Media
Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) November 20, 2023

Musk on Sunday defended his actions amid concern about his support of the antisemitic post, saying any claims he was antisemitic himself were bogus.

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