In November, X owner Elon Musk announced plans for a legal battle against Media Matters of America, branding them as “pure evil.” Musk alleged that Media Matters was manipulating the system to ensure that ads from prominent advertisers appeared alongside objectionable content, which they would then showcase by juxtaposing screenshots of ads with white supremacist tweets.
Joe Benarroch reported findings suggesting that Media Matters had created multiple accounts and followed similar profiles to conduct extensive monitoring, resulting in a disproportional number of ads being served to those accounts compared to the median.
Despite claims from various media outlets accusing X of placing ads near pro-Nazi content, attempts to replicate Media Matters’ research failed, indicating that their real objective wasn’t combating antisemitism but rather dismantling X as a platform for free speech.
Subsequently, X Corp initiated legal action against Media Matters for their alleged efforts to drive away advertisers. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey joined the fray, seeking documents related to Media Matters’ fundraising tactics aimed at pressuring advertisers to withdraw support from X.
🚨BREAKING: I am filing suit against Media Matters to force them to turn over documents regarding their solicitation of donations to bully advertisers into pulling out of X, the last platform dedicated to free speech in America.
THREAD: pic.twitter.com/tSRXIpyJ1h
— Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) March 25, 2024
Media Matters faced criticism after allegedly manipulating X’s algorithm to position advertisers’ content alongside contrived controversial posts, leading to significant financial losses for X when advertisers withdrew their support. Attorney General Bailey launched an investigation into Media Matters’ fundraising practices, citing potential violations of Missouri’s consumer protection laws.
Despite Media Matters’ history of non-cooperation with investigations, Attorney General Bailey vowed to pursue the truth. Musk lauded the legal action against Media Matters, accusing them of undermining the First Amendment. Social media users echoed these sentiments, expressing support for legal proceedings to hold Media Matters accountable for their actions.
Many viewed Media Matters as a leftist propaganda machine intent on silencing opposing views by bankrupting platforms that hosted them. The consensus was that Media Matters’ actions went beyond mere disagreement, aiming to suppress free speech at any cost.
