X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, is suing the state of New York over a new law that targets hate speech. The law, known as the Stop Hiding Hate Act, requires social media companies to reveal how they monitor hate speech and harmful content. X, formerly called Twitter, argues this violates free speech rights protected by the First Amendment.
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in a federal court. X claims the law forces social media platforms to disclose their stance on speech that is often controversial and protected. The platform says the law is not only vague but also gives the government power it should not have.
Letitia James, New York’s Attorney General, is named in the lawsuit. She is responsible for enforcing the law. X says the law forces companies to act as tools of the government, deciding what content is acceptable based on state demands.
The Stop Hiding Hate Act was passed in December. It asks social media firms to share details about what steps they take to reduce hate and violence on their platforms. Lawmakers also expect progress reports from these companies. Two of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Grace Lee, say the law is legal. They argue that it does not limit speech but demands honesty from large tech firms.
According to the sponsors, platforms like X have become “cesspools of hate speech.” They believe companies have failed to inform users about their policies and actions related to hate and misinformation.
However, X argues that this decision—about what should or should not be online—is not the state’s responsibility. The company states that such judgments must be left to private firms and the public. “This is not a role that the government may play,” the platform said in its legal filing.
Social media has become the main source of news for many Americans. A study by the Reuters Institute shows that a majority now consume news on platforms like X. This makes content moderation a sensitive and complex task. But X claims forcing companies to share how they handle such content is both harmful and unconstitutional.
The company also points to a recent legal win. Nine months ago, X successfully challenged a similar law in California. That law required social media companies to report on their content moderation practices. A judge blocked most of it, agreeing with X’s argument that it violated free speech rights. In the new case, X criticizes New York lawmakers for not learning from California’s mistake.
Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022 and renamed it X. Since then, he has changed many of the platform’s rules. According to experts, Musk has scaled back efforts to remove harmful content. Professor Laura Edelson from Northeastern University says that X has also cut back on the staff who enforced the old rules.
She says that, even though some policies on spam and abuse remain the same, enforcement is weaker. As a result, more harmful content slips through. “There is so much more floating around than there used to be,” she explained.
Musk and his platform have also pushed back against outside critics. Last year, Musk filed a lawsuit against a research group that published reports showing an increase in hate speech on the platform. A federal judge later dismissed that case.
Neither Attorney General Letitia James nor X responded to media requests for comment on the new lawsuit as of Tuesday.
The legal battle now raises questions about the role of government in regulating online speech. X is standing firm on its claim that forced transparency violates core constitutional rights. As the case unfolds, it may shape how far states can go in demanding action from social media companies.
