Key facts
- A U.S. judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk's X challenging a New York state law.
- The law requires social media companies to disclose their methods for monitoring hate speech, extremism, harassment, foreign political interference, and disinformation.
- New York's Attorney General Letitia James argued the law empowers consumers to make informed choices.
- X contended the law would expose it to lawsuits and fines for disclosing controversial speech.
- The law, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, applies to companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue and carries daily fines of up to $15,000 per violation.
A U.S. District Judge in Manhattan, John Cronan, has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk's social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, which sought to invalidate a New York state law. The law mandates that social media platforms disclose their strategies for monitoring and addressing hate speech, extremism, harassment, foreign political interference, and disinformation.
New York's Attorney General, Letitia James, had argued that the "Stop Hiding Hate Act" serves the state's interest in empowering consumers to make informed decisions about their social media usage. She contended that requiring platforms to reveal their content moderation policies and enforcement activities furthers this goal.
X, represented by lawyers including First Amendment expert Floyd Abrams, had argued that the law was unconstitutional. The company claimed it would be exposed to significant lawsuits and fines if it had to disclose "highly sensitive and controversial speech" deemed objectionable by the state. X also pointed to a federal appeals court decision that partially blocked a similar California law on free speech grounds, though New York argued this precedent was based on an "erroneous premise."
The law, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, applies to social media companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue. It requires them to detail how they eliminate hate on their platforms and report on their progress, with potential civil fines reaching $15,000 per violation per day. The Anti-Defamation League assisted in drafting the legislation.