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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has threatened to sue a group of independent researchers whose research documented an increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased (apnews.com)

submitted 1 year ago by CantSt0pPoppin@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Twitter is threatening legal action against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that researches hate speech and content moderation on social media platforms.

The letter from Twitter's lawyers alleges that CCDH's research publications are intended to 'harm Twitter's business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims.'

This is a pretty bold move from Twitter, especially considering that CCDH is a well-respected organization that has been doing this kind of research for years. And it's especially ironic coming from Elon Musk, who has said that he's a 'free speech absolutist.'

But Musk has also shown that he's sensitive to criticism, so it's not surprising that he's taking this kind of action against CCDH

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[-] MSids 24 points 1 year ago

If they go to court, wouldn't the court make them prove that the claim was false or defamation? And if CCDH can prove that it's not false or defamation then now it's legal record that hate speech has increased since the takeover? This all seems ok with me.

[-] Comment105@lemm.ee 16 points 1 year ago

That's not how the American court system works.

A company like Twitter can bleed the CCDH dry and just walk away with a frivolous lawsuit and a minor (insignificant) penalty.

And the way that works is not by accident.

[-] DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

In a defamation lawsuit, it would not be X that had to prove it was a lie. It would be CCDH that had to prove it had evidence for their claims (notice that it does not need to be true, only has to be reasonable for CCDH to believe it is true based on evidence they had).

[-] Whirlybird@aussie.zone 1 points 1 year ago

They just have to prove that the CCDH's report was bad and was using incorrect information to slander twitter, which going by the CCDH's reports listed methodology would take all of 2 minutes.

this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2023

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