Missouri Attorney General sues Media Matters over criticism

The move comes after a Texas attorney general filed a similar lawsuit, sparking concerns that news organizations could be next in line for legal action

Missouri’s attorney general is suing Media Matters, a progressive watchdog group, claiming it did not provide internal documents related to its 2023 coverage of hate speech on the social media platform X. The group’s leader suggests that news organizations could be targeted next.

According to the lawsuit, “Media Matters has pursued an activist agenda in its attempt to destroy X, because they cannot control it.” The suit describes X, formerly known as Twitter, 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, making it the second instance of GOP officials using legal means 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.”

“Attorney generals like Paxton and now Bailey are directly heeding Musk’s calls to action. They are aiding him in penalizing critics,” stated Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters.

The swift defense of Musk against the organization, now considered a new adversary of the right, highlights Musk’s growing influence among Republicans as a champion of free speech. Carusone is concerned that the GOP’s support of Musk will assist the billionaire in stifling significant criticism of X, as well as the right-wing extremism and hate speech that are prevalent on the platform.

Carusone informed the Guardian that newsrooms could be targeted next. There is no indication that state attorneys general would cease with Media Matters.

Musk, whose control over Twitter commenced with the reinstatement of neo-Nazi users, courted right-wing leaders by positioning himself as a fighter against “liberal censorship,” specifically referring to content moderation policies on his own social network. Following Musk’s acquisition of the platform, the social media company laid off 7,000 employees, including a significant portion of the trust and safety team and content moderation contractors. Digital experts noted that this quickly resulted in an increase in misinformation and hate speech.

“Musk recognized that he could cultivate an extremely fervent community that would propagate various debunked conspiracy theories,” stated Rich Logis, a former Republican and right-wing pundit. “He frames all of this within the narrative of absolute free speech.”

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

Carusone expressed concern that it should be alarming, especially for the media, that two state attorney general’s offices seem willing to act as a personal legal team for a tech billionaire. He cautioned that Bailey’s lawsuit provides a framework for penalizing newsrooms that publish negative stories about X or Musk.

“For newsrooms, especially those with limited resources, they must consider: is it worthwhile to publish a piece on Elon and X if it means facing a costly legal battle?” Carusone said. “Most newsrooms lack the financial means to engage in a legal fight against Elon Musk, especially now that state attorney generals are intervening.”

In the two years since acquiring the social media platform, Musk’s rebranding to appeal to the right has enabled him to establish connections with prominent Republicans. Earlier this month, Trump suggested that Musk should speak at the 2024 Republican National Convention. In February, a group of Republican senators participated in a virtual event on X, hosted by Musk, where they criticized US funding for Ukraine.

Musk’s ascent to mainstream political influence faced a brief setback in November when Media Matters reported that corporate advertisements from IBM, Apple, Oracle, and Comcast’s Xfinity were appearing alongside antisemitic content on X, including content that praised Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Leading advertisers promptly withdrew from X, risking an estimated loss of $75 million in advertising revenue for the company.

“Musk described Media Matters as ‘pure evil’ in a tweet on the same day.

In response, X announced a lawsuit against Media Matters, accusing the non-profit organization of defamation.

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

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

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

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

Additionally, it serves as a message to Musk’s critics: reconsider coverage that criticizes or harms X.

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

Despite the lawsuit’s dismissal, Media Matters is apprehensive that Musk may feel emboldened by the backing of conservative state attorneys general. This support could enable Musk to more vigorously 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 utilized X to amplify rightwing conspiracy theories surrounding the January 6 insurrection. He also expressed support for Jacob Chansley, a Capitol rioter known as the “QAnon Shaman.”

“Musk can amplify that conspiracy with his account, or he can simply allow the platform’s algorithm to boost that kind of content,” Carusone remarked. “There is the potential to quickly and effectively supercharge some dangerous conspiracy theories.”