US Markets
Monday, November 20th, 2023 4:25 pm EDT
Key Points
- Major US companies, including IBM, Apple, Oracle, and Comcast’s Xfinity, paused advertising on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, due to concerns about antisemitic content.
- Media Matters reported that corporate ads were placed alongside antisemitic content on X, praising Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, leading to the withdrawal of advertising by Warner Brothers, Paramount, Disney, and others.
- Elon Musk announced plans to file a “thermonuclear lawsuit” against Media Matters and those involved in what he called a “fraudulent attack” on X, emphasizing the platform’s commitment to free speech. Musk also denied Media Matters’ findings and endorsed a tweet making false claims about Jewish people, prompting backlash, including condemnation from the White House.
Elon Musk has announced his intention to file a lawsuit against Media Matters and others following the suspension of advertising on his social media platform, X, due to concerns about antisemitic content. Media Matters reported that corporate advertisements from IBM, Apple, Oracle, and Comcast’s Xfinity were appearing alongside antisemitic content on the platform, leading to several major companies, including Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Disney, pausing their advertising. Musk, in response, stated that X would file a “thermonuclear lawsuit” against Media Matters and those involved in what he called a “fraudulent attack” on his company. He emphasized X’s commitment to protecting free speech and denied the accuracy of Media Matters’ findings. Earlier in the week, Musk had endorsed a post falsely claiming that Jewish people were promoting hatred against white people, aligning with the “great replacement” conspiracy theory. This incident has prompted significant backlash, with the White House condemning Musk’s tweet as an “abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate.” Advertisers on X have declined since Musk’s acquisition of the platform, with Apple being one of its major advertisers, spending up to $100 million annually as of November 2022.
For the full original article, please click here: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/18/elon-musk-to-file-thermonuclear-lawsuit-as-advertisers-desert-x
