Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has taken legal action against media watchdog group Media Matters, alleging defamation after the organization published a report claiming ads for major brands appeared next to posts promoting Nazism. The lawsuit, filed in a US district court in Texas, accuses Media Matters of manipulating the platform to create a misleading narrative. This comes after IBM, Comcast, and other advertisers withdrew their ads from X in response to Media Matters’ report.
X contends that Media Matters used accounts exclusively following major brands or users associated with fringe content and engaged in continuous scrolling and refreshing to find ads next to extremist posts. The company argues that Media Matters misrepresented the typical user experience on X with the intention of harming its reputation and business.
Media Matters has yet to respond to the lawsuit. Angelo Carusone, the president of Media Matters, asserted that the nonprofit’s findings contradicted X’s claims of implementing safety measures to prevent ads from appearing next to harmful content.
The lawsuit states that ads for IBM, Comcast, and Oracle only appeared alongside hateful content for one viewer, identified as Media Matters.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into Media Matters, expressing concern over allegations of data manipulation.
Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, the platform has seen a decline in US ad revenue, with advertisers expressing concerns over Musk’s controversial posts and layoffs of content moderation employees.
X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, emphasized the company’s efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination in response to the controversy. Advertisers pausing investments have been addressed, but the company stresses its commitment to independent journalism.
By Reuters
