Twitter Sued by Advertisers Over "Illegal Boycott" Claim
In a shocking turn of events, a group of major advertisers, including Unilever, Mars, CVS, and Ørsted, are being sued by X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, for allegedly engaging in an "illegal boycott" against the company. X claims that the advertisers conspired to withhold billions of dollars in advertising revenue through the World Federation of Advertisers’ (WFA) industry initiative, the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM).
The Plot Thickens
According to X, GARM "organized an advertiser boycott of Twitter" to coerce the company into following the initiative’s safety standards. But what really happened? Was it a conspiracy to silence free speech, or a legitimate effort to promote responsible advertising?
The CEO’s Rant
X CEO Linda Yaccarino claims that the evidence and facts are on their side, stating, "They conspired to boycott X, which threatens our ability to thrive in the future. That puts your global Town Square — the one place that you can express yourself freely and openly — at long-term risk." But is she telling the whole truth?
The Elon Musk Factor
In a separate post, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, strongly encouraged companies to file lawsuits against advertisers who have "systematically boycotted" them. He even hinted at possible criminal liability under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. But will this lawsuit hold up in court?
The House Judiciary Committee Report
X’s lawsuit cites a July 10th report from the House Judiciary Committee, which said that the WFA and GARM’s "collusive conduct to demonetize disfavored content" was "alarming." But will this report be enough to convince the court that an "illegal boycott" occurred?
The Controversy Continues
As the battle for free speech and responsible advertising continues, it’s unclear how well X’s lawsuit will fare in court. Will the advertisers be held accountable for their alleged actions, or will they be able to claim that they had the right to choose where to advertise? One thing is certain: this controversy is far from over.
Author: Kayitsi.com
