X Settles Lawsuit with Former US President
In a [[breaking]] news update today, Elon Musk’s social media company, X (formerly Twitter), has agreed to pay about $10 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former US President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, filed in July 2021, alleged that the platform unlawfully silenced conservative viewpoints.
Second Social Media Platform to Settle
This marks the second time a social media giant has settled with Trump over account suspension following the January 2021 US Capitol incident. Last month, Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) agreed to a $25 million settlement in a similar lawsuit. Trump had also sued Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and its former CEO.
Trump’s Relationship with Musk
Interestingly, Trump has a close relationship with Musk, with Musk having contributed $250 million to Trump’s election campaign. There were discussions within Trump’s legal team about potentially letting the lawsuit against X fade away due to this connection. However, they ultimately proceeded with the settlement.
Musk’s Role in Government Efficiency
Besides heading Tesla and X, Musk also leads the Department of Government Efficiency, a new White House initiative focused on streamlining the federal bureaucracy.
Google Settlement Expected
It is also anticipated that Trump’s lawyers will pursue a settlement with Google, who banned Trump from YouTube after the Capitol riot. The lawsuit was related to the suspension of Trump’s accounts on various platforms after the January 6, 2021 events.
No Immediate Comments
Neither X nor its CEO at the time of Trump’s suspension, Jack Dorsey, have issued any statements regarding the settlement. Similarly, Alphabet and the White House have not yet responded to requests for comment on this latest development. This [[business]] and [[tech]] news marks a significant development in the ongoing discussion about the role of social media platforms in regulating political speech. More [[news]] and [[analysis]] to follow. Stay tuned for [[updates]].
