X, the social media firm beforehand often called Twitter, the state of California over a regulation that requires corporations to reveal particulars about their content material moderation practices. The regulation, often called AB 587, requires social media corporations to publish details about their dealing with of hate speech, extremism, misinformation and different points, in addition to particulars about inner moderation processes.

Attorneys for X argue that the regulation is unconstitutional and can result in censorship. It “has each the aim and certain impact of pressuring corporations comparable to X Corp. to take away, demonetize, or deprioritize constitutionally-protected speech,” the corporate wrote within the . “The true intent of AB 587 is to stress social media platforms to ‘remove’ sure constitutionally-protected content material considered by the State as problematic.”

X just isn’t alone in its opposition to the regulation. Although the measure was backed by some activists, quite a lot of business teams took problem with AB 587. Netchoice, a commerce group which represents Meta, Google, TikTok and different tech corporations, final yr that AB 587 would assist unhealthy actors evade corporations’ safety measures, and make it more durable for them to implement their guidelines.

On the identical time, AB 587’s backers have mentioned it’s obligatory to extend the transparency of main platforms. “If @X has nothing to cover, then they need to haven’t any objection to this invoice,” Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, who wrote AB 587, mentioned to X’s lawsuit.