Judge Dismisses X Corp Lawsuit Against New York Hate Speech Law

US District Judge John Cronan dismissed a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk's X Corp that sought to block New York's Stop Hiding Hate Act. X argued that the legislation violated First Amendment free speech guarantees by requiring social media companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue to disclose their moderation policies regarding disinformation, extremism, and hate speech.

Judge Cronan ruled that the law only requires companies to speak truthfully about their offerings and stated that "the First Amendment poses no obstacle" to the requirement. The dismissal was granted with prejudice, preventing X from amending its complaint.

Signed into law in December 2024 by Governor Kathy Hochul and supported by the Anti-Defamation League, the act allows for civil fines of up to $15,000 per violation per day. New York Attorney General Letitia James defended the legislation, asserting that it enables consumers to make informed choices about the platforms they use.