Media Matters challenges FTC probe on Musk's X boycott
Media Matters for America (MMFA), a liberal media watchdog, is suing the FTC to stop an investigation into whether it helped organize an advertiser boycott against Elon Musk's X.
The FTC wants MMFA's communications with other groups that evaluate misinformation and hate speech and documents tied to lawsuits from X, which claims MMFA pushed advertisers away.
MMFA says there was no coordination and calls the probe a violation of its First Amendment rights.
Case highlights debates about press freedom, power of tech platforms
This fight started after MMFA's 2023 report showed big brands' ads next to extremist content on X, prompting some companies to pull their ads.
Now, with lawsuits flying both ways and the government stepping in, the case spotlights bigger debates about press freedom, how much power tech platforms should have, and where regulators should draw the line when it comes to investigating media groups.
The outcome could shape what free speech looks like online going forward.