Since acquiring the company now known as X, Elon Musk özgü claimed that his social media platform would be one where free speech ideals reigned supreme. In August 2023, Musk went so far as declaring that he would financially support any user who was punished for their speech on X.
“If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill,” Musk said. “No limit. Please let us know.”
This past Sunday, X seemingly shared an example of one such case.
“X is proud to help defend Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill against the government-supported efforts to cancel her speech,” X said, going on to say they would hisse the remainder of the doctor’s $300,000 legal bills. Gill had previously posted that she had raised around half of the amount herself through a crowdfunding campaign, meaning X was going to fund the estimated remainder of $150,000.
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In its post, X claims that “free speech is the bedrock of democracy and a critical defense against totalitarianism in all forms” and that “we must do whatever we can to protect it.”
“At X, we will always fight to protect your right to speak freely,” X’s statement ends.
However, X leaves out critical information about this case that makes their position contrary to Musk and company’s stated beliefs.
X claims in its statement that Gill was “harassed by the legacy media, censored by prior Twitter management, and subjected to investigations and disciplinary proceedings by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.”
But it was Gill who filed the lawsuit, in an attempt to stifle speech she didn’t like, which included posts from her critics on then-Twitter.
Also, while the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), a regulatory medical body, did “caution” Gill over her COVID posts, those are intended to be educational or remedial measures, not punitive. Gill did not lose her medical license. (In addition, the CPSO was not involved in Gill’s lawsuit.)
But, X’s actions here shouldn’t be too surprising. Musk and company just lost a lawsuit of their own — also struck down under anti-SLAPP law — one day after it announced their financial support for Gill. In that case, X sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that tracks hate speech online, over reports regarding X that Musk did not like.
“In support of your right to speak,” Musk commented earlier this week regarding X’s financial help for Gill.
But, it doesn’t seem that Musk extends that “right to speak” to Gill’s or X’s critics.