Posted BY: Kara | NwoReport
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has taken legal action against the state of California. His lawsuit alleges California violated X Corp’s free speech rights by imposing open moderation policies. Musk has positioned himself as a staunch free speech advocate and acquired Twitter to preserve it as a global forum for open discourse.
The crux revolves around California’s AB 587, passed in September 2022. This legislation mandates social media companies with over $100 million in annual revenue to publicly disclose their content moderation policies, especially regarding disinformation, harassment, hate speech, and extremism. Law violations can result in fines of up to $15,000 per day per infraction.
X Corp’s lawsuit contends that AB 587 infringes upon its First Amendment rights federally and within California’s state constitution. They argue that the law intends to compel social media platforms to suppress objectionable speech.
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Moreover, AB 587 mandates that social media companies submit biannual reports detailing their definitions of extremism, disinformation, and harassment in their terms of service. This law is set to take effect in January, with reports due to the attorney general’s office by January 1, 2024.
Upon signing the bill, Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized California’s commitment to combating hate and disinformation on social media platforms. The state’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, will respond to the lawsuit in federal court.
Notably, this legal challenge follows a similar lawsuit filed in April by the satirical website The Babylon Bee and podcaster Tim Pool against AB 587.
As the legal battle unfolds, it remains a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over free speech on social media platforms and the role of state regulations in moderating online content.
