Elon Musk’s social media company X has sued Media Matters for America over an investigative report recently published by the liberal-leaning watchdog, claiming advertisements from major corporations ran alongside Nazi content posted on the platform.
The Media Matters report specifically mentions ads from Apple and Oracle featured next to antisemitic material on X. The D.C.-based nonprofit further alleged ads from major brands like Amazon, NBA Mexico, NBCUniversal and others appeared alongside white nationalist hashtags.
In a complaint filed Monday in a federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, lawyers for X argued that Media Matters “knowingly and maliciously manufactured side-by-side images depicting advertisers’ posts” with the intention of driving “advertisers from the platform” to “destroy” X.
To conduct its research for the report in question, Media Matters used accounts that bypassed “X’s ad filter for new users” and followed only accounts “known to produce extreme, fringe content” and “accounts owned by X’s big-name advertisers,” according to the complaint. It further contended the nonprofit “resorted to endlessly scrolling and refreshing its unrepresentative, hand-selected feed … until it finally received pages containing the result it wanted: controversial content next to X’s largest advertisers’ paid posts.”
APTOPIX Twitter Logo Change
Noah Berger/AP Workers install lighting on an “X” sign atop the downtown San Francisco building that housed what was formally known as Twitter, now rebranded X by owner Elon Musk, Friday, July 28, 2023. (Noah Berger/AP)
Following the report’s release, Apple, IBM and Disney yanking their advertising from the site
In a post on X Monday night, the platform’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, further blasted the Media Matters report. It marked the latest blow to the Musk-run platform amid its ongoing efforts to win back big brands and their ad dollars, X’s main source of revenue.
“If you know me, you know I’m committed to truth and fairness. Here’s the truth. Not a single authentic user on X saw IBM’s, Comcast’s, or Oracle’s ads next to the content in Media Matters’ article,” she wrote. “Only 2 users saw Apple’s ad next to the content, at least one of which was Media Matters. Data wins over manipulation or allegations. Don’t be manipulated. Stand with X.”
Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he planned to open “an investigation into Media Matters for potential fraudulent activity,” specifically citing Musk’s allegations of “manipulating data.”
Media Matters President Angelo Carusone said the website would defend itself.
“This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully X’s critics into silence,” he said in a statement. “Media Matters stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court.”
With News Wire Services
