Musk Threatens Legal Action Against Anti-Defamation League Amid EU Regulatory Pressure

Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, is once again making headlines for his attacks on critics and his involvement with a controversial online movement. This time, Musk has targeted the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization focused on combating antisemitism, and threatened legal action against them. Musk blames the ADL for the loss of advertisers on his platform, which has been facing significant challenges.

While Musk faces backlash for his actions, X is also dealing with regulatory pressure from the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA requires platforms like X to comply with certain guidelines to mitigate disinformation and illegal content. This puts Musk and X on a collision course with EU regulators, who now have the authority to assess and enforce the DSA.

The hashtag #BanTheADL began trending on X after a meeting between X CEO Linda Yaccarino and the ADL’s National Director Jonathan Greenblatt. Musk got involved liking a tweet that falsely alleged the ADL was blackmailing social media companies. He later scapegoated the ADL for the loss of advertising revenue on X, accusing them of pressuring advertisers to leave the platform. Musk even threatened a defamation lawsuit against the ADL.

It remains to be seen whether Musk will follow through with his threats, but legal action is not unprecedented for him. Last month, X filed a lawsuit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, accusing them of causing advertising revenue loss. Some observers see this as a way for Musk to avoid accountability.

Meanwhile, X and other designated Very Large Online Platforms are required to comply with the DSA. X must submit its first mandatory risk assessment, showing how it plans to address disinformation and illegal content. Researchers and civil society groups are eager to see how the DSA will be enforced and what actions will be deemed as “systemic risk.”

A recent report revealed that X’s lack of safety measures contributed to Russia’s disinformation campaign during its illegal war in Ukraine. The report showed that engagement of Kremlin-backed accounts increased after X axed mitigation measures. The withdrawal of X from the EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation further weakened these measures.

As Musk continues to clash with critics, regulators, and organizations like the ADL, the future of X and its compliance with EU regulations remains uncertain.

Sources:
– Tech Policy Press
– Rolling Stone