X Corp’s June 2025 lawsuit against New York’s Stop Hiding Hate Act challenges a law that compels social media firms to publicly share policies and data on hate speech, disinformation, extremism, and foreign influence, under penalty of up to $15,000 per violation per day. The complaint filed in Manhattan federal court argues that forcing disclosure of content-moderation practices amounts to compelled, non‑commercial speech, infringing not only on the First Amendment but also on state constitutional rights.
Proponents like Senators Brad Hoylman‑Sigal and Grace Lee, working with the Anti‑Defamation League, assert the law enhances transparency without overstepping into censorship. They contend that X Corp’s refusal to discuss amendments in 2024 reflects its opposition to accountability. New York’s legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul maintain that the measure empowers citizens, countering claims that it threatens free speech and editorial discretion.
This legal battle echoes X’s prior move against California’s analogous reporting legislation, which resulted in a partial judicial block and eventual settlement exempting X from enforcement. X argues that this latest law is similarly unconstitutional. But critics highlight X’s rollback of moderation, suspension of journalists, and suppression of critical media – actions Musk has defended as free‑speech preservation yet which raise questions about harm to vulnerable communities.
The stakes are significant: if the court upholds the law, it could usher in a new era of transparency for large platforms nationwide. However, a ruling in X’s favour may reinforce corporate autonomy in content decisions, potentially reducing public scrutiny. This case is now pending in the Southern District of New York, marking the latest chapter in the evolving legal contest over the boundaries between public interest, free speech, and platform accountability.
