Latest news with #MediaMatters'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Appeals Court Bars Texas AG Ken Paxton From Investigating Media Matters
A U.S. appeals court on Friday ruled unanimously in favor of Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog organization, blocking a Texas attorney general's attempt to investigate the firm for its reporting about brand safety concerns on X. Texas AG Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Media Matters in late November of 2023, after the organization published a report showing ads from major brands appearing next to antisemitic and white supremacist content on the social platform formerly known as Twitter. Media Matters' report sparked a wave of advertiser pullback, which angered X owner Elon Musk. Musk then sued Media Matters, alleging the group knowingly manipulated data to push a damaging narrative about brand safety on the platform. On the same day that Musk filed suit, Texas' Paxton kicked off a probe into Media Matters, alleging it "fraudulently manipulated data on A district court granted Media Matters a preliminary injunction, which blocked Paxton's attempt to enforce a pre-litigation the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed an earlier decision from a district court to block Paxton's subpoena attempt, calling the effort an "arguably bad-faith investigation." The court ruled on First Amendment grounds, determining that Media Matters' statements about X constitute protected free speech. "Paxton's contention that Appellees' conduct is not constitutionally protected because their articles were deliberately designed to mislead consumers about X is meritless," the court wrote in a 34-page ruling issued today. "The record is utterly devoid of evidence to support such a claim." The court added that Media Matters' "reporting on public issues are quintessential First Amendment activities.' In response to the decision, Media Matters President and CEO Angelo Carusone said in a statement: "Elon Musk encouraged Republican state attorneys general to use their power to harass their critics and stifle reporting about X. Ken Paxton was one of those AGs who took up the call, and his attempt to use his office as an instrument for Musk's censorship crusade has been defeated. Today's decision is a victory for free speech."The Texas Attorney General's Office did not respond to ADWEEK's request for comment by press time. X Rolls Out AI-Generated Ads in Push to Win Advertisers Back
Irish Independent
25-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Elon Musk's X seeks to revive ‘thermonuclear' defamation case in Ireland, after libel tourism suit blocked by US court
The social media platform has been in a bitter row with the 'Media Matters for America' website and filed defamation proceedings against it in December 2023. The left-leaning media watchdog infuriated Musk, – the world's richest man – after it reported in November 2023 that X had placed ads for brands like Apple and IBM next to content that 'touts Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party'. Musk pledged to file 'a thermonuclear lawsuit' against Media Matters in response. X alleged both parties in the Irish case were ready to proceed to legal briefing Subsequently, X and its subsidiaries launched defamation cases in Texas, Dublin, and Singapore. Twitter International Unlimited Co launched the Irish defamation case in 2023. Media Matters accused X of launching a 'vendetta-driven campaign of libel tourism'. In April, Judge Vince Chhabria for Northern California, published an order stopping X from further prosecuting its case against Media Matters in Ireland. He cited its terms of service, which included a 'forum selection clause,' which he said meant lawsuits should have been filed in California. The judge said Media Matters' previous legal counsel appeared to have missed the clause, and it should not be 'punished' for this failure. Musk's company filed an appeal in the US against the order. In the filing, X claimed that if any court should consider Media Matters' 'belated invocation' of the forum selection clause regarding its Irish business, it is the High Court of Ireland. It said the case had been ongoing in Ireland for 18 months. X alleged the watchdog had made a considered decision not to invoke the clause in the foreign cases and had been relying on an argument that another venue was more appropriate to hear the case. X claimed Media Matters had waived its right to rely on the clause. X also alleged both parties in the Irish case were ready to proceed to legal briefing. It added the preliminary injunction had led the Irish courts to halt a hearing scheduled for the following day. It also claimed the Irish business was not bound by the terms of service Media Matters cited. If the stay is granted, X could resume its subsidiary's defamation case in Ireland.
