Elon Musk’s X Corp. has filed a lawsuit against a New York state law that mandates social media companies to disclose their handling of hate speech and disinformation. The legal challenge, lodged in a federal court in Manhattan, seeks to block the enforcement of the law, which X argues infringes upon the First Amendment by compelling platforms to reveal sensitive details of their content moderation processes.
In a statement posted Tuesday, X’s Global Government Affairs team confirmed the filing, highlighting that the company had previously succeeded in overturning a similar statute in California. “X is the only platform fighting for its users by challenging the law, and we are confident we will prevail in this case as well,” the company asserted.
The New York legislation applies to social media platforms earning more than $100 million annually. Under its provisions, companies must submit detailed reports twice a year, outlining their policies and actions concerning hate speech, racism, extremism, misinformation, and harassment. Any non-compliance could result in fines of $15,000 per day, enforced by the state attorney general.
X contends that the law represents an unlawful state intrusion into editorial decisions over content moderation, effectively pressuring platforms to limit speech that should be constitutionally protected. The company described the measure as “an impermissible attempt by the State to inject itself into the content-moderation editorial process.”
Responding to the lawsuit, Reporters Without Borders defended the legislation, stating that demanding accountability from X on its management of misinformation was “by no means an infringement of freedom of expression, but the bare minimum to clean up the digital space.” The group stressed that freedom of speech carries corresponding responsibilities.
X’s filing argues that New York’s law mirrors the California statute previously struck down, yet state legislators refused to amend the bill in light of that precedent. The lawsuit claims that lawmakers’ unwillingness to engage was influenced by content on X promoted by Musk, which they believe threatens democratic values, suggesting a “viewpoint discriminatory motive” behind the legislation.
In defence of the law, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly member Grace Lee, who introduced the bill, insisted it does not violate the First Amendment or federal statutes. They described the Stop Hiding Hate Act as a narrowly focused requirement that enhances transparency, enabling consumers to make informed choices about the platforms they use. They added, “The fact that Elon Musk would go to these lengths to avoid disclosing straightforward information to New Yorkers as required by our statute illustrates exactly why we need the Stop Hiding Hate Act.”X Sues New York Over Content Moderation Disclosure Law.
Elon Musk’s X Corp. has filed a lawsuit against a New York state law that mandates social media companies to disclose their handling of hate speech and disinformation. The legal challenge, lodged in a federal court in Manhattan, seeks to block the enforcement of the law, which X argues infringes upon the First Amendment by compelling platforms to reveal sensitive details of their content moderation processes.
In a statement posted Tuesday, X’s Global Government Affairs team confirmed the filing, highlighting that the company had previously succeeded in overturning a similar statute in California. “X is the only platform fighting for its users by challenging the law, and we are confident we will prevail in this case as well,” the company asserted.
The New York legislation applies to social media platforms earning more than $100 million annually. Under its provisions, companies must submit detailed reports twice a year, outlining their policies and actions concerning hate speech, racism, extremism, misinformation, and harassment. Any non-compliance could result in fines of $15,000 per day, enforced by the state attorney general.
X contends that the law represents an unlawful state intrusion into editorial decisions over content moderation, effectively pressuring platforms to limit speech that should be constitutionally protected. The company described the measure as “an impermissible attempt by the State to inject itself into the content-moderation editorial process.”
Responding to the lawsuit, Reporters Without Borders defended the legislation, stating that demanding accountability from X on its management of misinformation was “by no means an infringement of freedom of expression, but the bare minimum to clean up the digital space.” The group stressed that freedom of speech carries corresponding responsibilities.
X’s filing argues that New York’s law mirrors the California statute previously struck down, yet state legislators refused to amend the bill in light of that precedent. The lawsuit claims that lawmakers’ unwillingness to engage was influenced by content on X promoted by Musk, which they believe threatens democratic values, suggesting a “viewpoint discriminatory motive” behind the legislation.
In defence of the law, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly-member Grace Lee, who introduced the bill, insisted it does not violate the First Amendment or federal statutes. They described the Stop Hiding Hate Act as a narrowly focused requirement that enhances transparency, enabling consumers to make informed choices about the platforms they use. They added, “The fact that Elon Musk would go to these lengths to avoid disclosing straightforward information to New Yorkers as required by our statute illustrates exactly why we need the Stop Hiding Hate Act.”
