Trial scheduled for April in Musk’s X lawsuit against Media Matters
The company argues that the watchdog’s research methodology is flawed and distorts the likelihood of encountering such extremist material, claiming this unfairly damages X’s reputation.
A lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s company X against Media Matters, scheduled for trial in April 2025, marks the latest development in a contentious legal battle. The US District Court for the Northern District of Texas set this date following allegations from X that Media Matters misrepresented the prevalence of hate speech on social media platforms, specifically targeting content on X’s platform.
Media Matters, a nonprofit watchdog group, has been accused by X of distorting data and exaggerating the likelihood of encountering extremist content. X claims that Media Matters’ methodology does not accurately reflect real user experiences, prompting a legal challenge that has garnered significant attention.
In response to Thursday’s court order, neither X nor Media Matters provided immediate comments. However, Media Matters President Angelo Carusone previously denounced the lawsuit as baseless and an attempt to stifle criticism of Elon Musk. Motions for summary judgment are expected by December, with a decision potentially influencing the case’s outcome before it reaches trial.
The lawsuit is part of a broader pattern for Musk, who has faced legal setbacks in similar cases aiming to challenge watchdog groups. Earlier this year, a federal judge in California dismissed a lawsuit by X against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, criticising it as retaliatory rather than protective of platform integrity. The outcome of these legal battles could affect how social media platforms and watchdog organisations navigate issues of content moderation and free speech moving forward.
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