Elon Musk's X sues California over social media law to deal with disinformation, extremism
Elon Musk,on Friday, legally challenged recent social media laws implemented in California. The new laws require social media companies to reveal their policies for policing disinformation, harassment, hate speech and extremism. X Corporation's Elon sued California government over the law that aims to bring transparency and extremism.
According to the social media site, X, formerly known as Twitter, the Assembly Bill 587 bill violates its free speech rights under the US Constitution's First Amendment and California's state constitution. The social media firm filed a complaint in federal court in Sacramento, California, X. The 'true intent' of the law is to pressure social media companies into eliminating content the state found objectionable, alleged the social media firm.
By doing so, California is forcing companies to adopt the state's views on politically charged issues, "a form of compelled speech in and of itself," X said. The micro-blogging site, X, underwent a range of changes after the company was bought by Elon Musk for $44 billion last October. Musk claims himself to be a self-described free speech absolutist.
Soon after the takeover, he laid off many employees who were responsible for monitoring and regulating content. He also restored some accounts that prior management had banned. The Anti-Defamation League and the Center for Countering Digital Hate documented increases in the volummme of hate speech on X targeting Jews, Black people, gay men and trans people since Musk took over.
Elon Musk also own companies like Tesla and SpaceX. The office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, which enforces state laws, said it will respond to the complaint in court. About the Californian law that has been challenged
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