Elon Musk’s Twitter (surely no-one really calls it X?) is suing New York State.
Why? Because apparently being asked to explain how your social media platform handles hate speech and misinformation is an unconstitutional burden.
New York state’s law requires social media companies to report how they moderate hate speech and disinformation. It doesn’t require censorship or even impose fines. It just says “Tell us what your moderation policies are, and how you enforce them.”
Which seems reasonable to me.
But Twitter argues that this is a free speech violation. Clearly it’s less worried about the real danger posed by rampant disinformation and threats of violence, and more concerned about filling in a form.
So much for transparency.
The one thing that is clear is just what a hellhole Twitter is these days, as its law suit shines a spotlight on once again.
Misinformation and disinformation aren’t just problems for society – they are also tools in the arsenal of bad actors.
State-sponsored hackers and cybercriminals routinely use social media platforms to:
- spread false narratives and propaganda
- erode trust in institutions
- amplify panic
Lack of moderation transparency makes it easier for these cyber campaigns to succeed and go undetected.
Learn more in this article on the BBC News site.
