Elon Musk Fires Back Amid Accusations Of Intimidation By Anti-Hate Speech Campaigners: 'They Should Save Their Words...'

Elon Musk responds to allegations of intimidation by an anti-hate speech campaign group, urging them to reserve their statements for the jury.

What Happened: The Center for Countering Digital Hate or CCDH, an anti-hate speech campaign group, has accused Musk’s X Corp of intimidation following a legal threat over the organization’s research into hate speech on the platform formerly known as Twitter and now rebranded as “X.” 

The CCDH has been conducting regular research into the platform’s content since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion last year, claiming a rise in the publication of hateful material on the site, reported The Guardian. 

See Also: Twitter Snatches @X Handle At Last — But How Much Did Elon Musk Pay for It?

Musk’s legal representative, Alex Spiro, sent a letter to CCDH and its chief executive, Imran Ahmed, accusing them of posting “inflammatory, outrageous, and false or misleading assertions about Twitter.” 

The letter also warned of potential legal action, with X Corp considering whether CCDH’s claims are actionable under the Lanham Act, a piece of US legislation covering trademark law, the report noted.  

Roberta Kaplan, representing CCDH, asserted that the organization’s work did not fall under the kind of advertisement or commercial speech that might trigger the Lanham Act. 

Kaplan deemed the legal threat an attempt to silence criticism, which contradicted Musk’s commitment to free speech.

In response to the accusations, Musk said, “They should save their words for the jury.” 

They should save their words for the jury

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2023

Why It’s Important: In June this year, Musk’s promises of restoring free speech on the platform came under fire when an Australian watchdog uncovered a disturbing surge in online hate.

In July, Musk’s Twitter, now called “X,” touted a decline in hate speech, but users on the platform demanded further clarification and transparency.

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