Last updated on April 8th, 2024 at 10:59 am

The action mirrors a lawsuit by the Texas attorney general, sparking concerns that news organizations could be targeted next

Missouri’s attorney general is suing Media Matters, a progressive watchdog group, claiming it did not provide internal documents after its 2023 coverage of hate speech on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The group’s leader expressed concern that news outlets could be targeted next.

The lawsuit alleges that Media Matters has pursued an activist agenda to dismantle X because it cannot control it. X is described in the suit as a “free speech platform” that enables Missourians to express their own viewpoints in the public square.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed the lawsuit on Monday, marking the second instance of GOP officials using legal action against Media Matters to support Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X. In November, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated an investigation into Media Matters, labeling the group as a “radical anti-free speech organization.”

Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, stated, “These state attorneys general, first Paxton and now Bailey, are directly responding to Musk’s pleas. They are helping him punish critics.” The swift defense of Musk against Media Matters, now considered an adversary by the right, highlights Musk’s increasing prominence among Republicans as a champion of free speech. Carusone is concerned that the GOP’s support of Musk will assist the billionaire in stifling crucial criticism of X, as well as right-wing extremism and hate speech that are prevalent on the platform.

Musk, whose involvement with Twitter began by reinstating neo-Nazi users, appealed to right-wing leaders by positioning himself as a soldier in the battle against “liberal censorship,” specifically referring to content moderation policies on his own social network. Following Musk’s acquisition of the platform, Twitter laid off 7,000 employees, including much of the trust and safety team and content moderation contractors. Digital experts noted that this led to a rapid increase in misinformation and hate speech on the platform.

“Rich Logis, a former Republican and right-wing pundit, commented, ‘Musk realized he could build a very, very rabid community who would traffic in a variety of debunked conspiracy theories.’ Logis added that Musk frames this within a narrative of free speech absolutism.”

Musk’s choice to reduce content moderation on X received widespread praise from right-wing leaders, including Donald Trump. Now, these same allies on the right are assisting Musk in silencing critics of X.

Carusone expressed concern that two state attorney general offices seem eager to act as a legal team for a tech billionaire, which should be alarming for everyone, particularly the media. Bailey’s lawsuit, Carusone warned, sets a precedent for punishing news organizations that publish negative stories about X or Musk.

For newsrooms, especially those with limited resources, Carusone explained that this situation forces difficult decisions: is it worth the risk of a costly legal battle to publish a critical piece on Elon and X? Many newsrooms, he noted, cannot afford to engage in legal battles with Elon Musk, especially now that state attorneys general are intervening.

Since acquiring the social media platform, Musk’s rebranding has garnered him support from top Republicans. Trump recently suggested that Musk should speak at the 2024 Republican National Convention, and in February, a group of Republican senators held a virtual event on X criticizing US funding for Ukraine, with Musk in attendance.

In November, Musk faced a brief challenge to his growing political influence when Media Matters reported that corporate ads from IBM, Apple, Oracle, and Comcast’s Xfinity were appearing alongside antisemitic content on X, including praise for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. This led to major advertisers pulling out of X, potentially costing the company an estimated $75 million in ad revenue.

In response, Musk tweeted, “Media Matters is pure evil.”

On the same day, X filed a lawsuit against Media Matters, alleging defamation.

The response to the Media Matters report intensified when Stephen Miller, former senior adviser to Trump, joined the discussion. Miller tweeted a suggestion that conservative state attorneys general should consider legal action against Media Matters.

The next day, Texas Attorney General Paxton announced an investigation into Media Matters for “potential fraudulent activity.”

The lawsuit against Media Matters provides an opportunity for the Missouri attorney general to demonstrate his conservative credentials as he campaigns for his first full term against a Trump attorney.

“It all signals to primary voters, look, there’s nobody more Maga than me,” said Daniel Ponder, a political science professor at Drury University in Missouri.

This also serves as a message to Musk’s critics: reconsider any coverage that criticizes or harms X.

Musk had previously tried to silence critics at the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a non-profit that has published reports documenting the increase in racist, antisemitic, and extremist content on X. However, this case was dismissed this week by a US district judge in California, who characterized Musk’s lawsuit as one of the “most vapid extensions of law that I’ve ever heard.” Missouri’s courts, where Republicans have long held the majority of state offices, may prove to be more favorable.

Despite the dismissal, Media Matters is concerned that Musk will be emboldened by the support of conservative state attorneys general. This support could enable Musk to more forcefully and effectively silence critics of X.

Carusone emphasized the urgent need for robust criticism of X ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Just last year, Musk used X to amplify right-wing conspiracy theories about the January 6 insurrection. He also expressed support for Jacob Chansley, a Capitol rioter known as the “QAnon Shaman.”

“Musk has the ability to amplify such a conspiracy through his account, or he can simply let the platform’s algorithm promote that type of content,” Carusone stated. “There is a possibility to rapidly and efficiently intensify some dangerous conspiracy theories.”