Self-Proclaimed “Free Speech Absolutist” Elon Musk Tries to Silence Independent Researchers Center for Countering Digital Hate

The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) has been a leading voice exposing how Musk’s leadership and the changes he is making to “X” have led to a proliferation of hate speech on the platform. While Musk proclaims himself to be an advocate for free speech, his latest tactics involve making brazen verbal and legal threats against CCDH, all while allowing racist, antisemitic content to proliferate on his platform. Research by CCDH shows hate speech on the platform has proliferated under Musk, and the company is doing nothing to stop it. Musk has disclosed ad revenue is down 50% since his takeover and blamed CCDH, among others, for advertisers fleeing the platform. While Elon Musk proclaims to be a “free speech absolutist,” his actions against CCDH show the lengths he will go to silence those who seek to hold him to account.