In a recent legal setback, Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has failed in its attempt to halt the enforcement of a California law compelling social media companies to publicly disclose their content moderation practices.
X initiated legal action against the state of California in September, asserting that the pioneering legislation violated the freedom of speech protections enshrined in the United States Constitution.
The law, enacted last year by California Governor Gavin Newsom, mandates that social media firms furnish semi-annual reports detailing their strategies for addressing hate speech, misinformation, and other objectionable content.
On Thursday, US District Judge William Shubb rejected X’s motion to temporarily suspend the law. Judge Shubb deemed the disclosure requirements “uncontroversial” and not “unjustified or unduly burdensome within the context of First Amendment law.”
X’s legal challenge contended that the law compelled companies to engage in speech against their will, interfered impermissibly with a firm’s editorial judgment, and exerted pressure on companies to remove constitutionally-protected speech.
Formerly known as Twitter, X has experienced a notable departure of advertisers, including major companies like Apple, Disney, IBM, and Lions Gate Entertainment. This exodus is attributed to concerns about the prevalence of hate speech and misinformation on the platform, as well as Elon Musk’s own controversial statements.
In addition to domestic challenges, X is currently under scrutiny by the European Union. The EU has initiated an investigation into the company for suspected violations of the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA) concerning content related to Hamas’s attacks on Israel that occurred on October 7.