Judge dismisses X suit over NY hate law

A U.S. judge dismissed Elon Musk’s X lawsuit challenging New York’s Stop Hiding Hate Act, ruling that the law’s disclosure requirements for how social media platforms address hate speech, extremism, harassment, foreign interference, and disinformation do not violate the First Amendment. The judge said requiring X to report purely factual and uncontroversial information about its moderation policies is reasonably tied to New Yorkers’ ability to make informed choices, drawing an analogy to disclosing factual calorie information. X, formerly Twitter and part of SpaceX, had argued the law could expose platforms to lawsuits and fines for speech the state dislikes, but the court rejected that argument. The law, signed in December 2024 by Governor Kathy Hochul, applies to social media companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue and allows civil fines up to $15,000 per violation per day, with the Anti-Defamation League involved in its drafting. New York Attorney General Letitia James defended the statute, saying it helps consumers understand what to expect from platforms without prohibiting moderation or free speech. In some accounts, reports note Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and subsequent moderation policy changes as context for the litigation, though the ruling stands on the statutory interpretation alone, and the dismissal was with prejudice in at least one filing.