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Singapore court says X subsidiary's case over ads next to Nazi content belongs in the US
🇸🇬 Singapore /Crime & Justice

Singapore court says X subsidiary's case over ads next to Nazi content belongs in the US

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Singapore's High Court dismissed a bid by X's local subsidiary to sue a US-based media company over an article alleging ads appeared next to pro-Nazi content.
  • The court ruled that Singapore was not the proper forum for the suit, despite arguable defamation claims, and the case would be best heard in the United States.
  • X Asia Pacific had sued Media Matters for America after the latter published an article linking ads on X to pro-Nazi content and Elon Musk's alleged endorsement of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Singapore's High Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by X's local subsidiary against a US-based non-profit, Media Matters for America. The subsidiary, X Asia Pacific, had sought to sue over an article that alleged major brands' advertisements appeared next to pro-Nazi content on the platform.

Singapore was not the proper forum for the suit, and the case would be best heard in the United States.

— Judicial Commissioner Low Siew LingRuling on the jurisdiction of the lawsuit.

Judicial Commissioner Low Siew Ling ruled on Friday that while X Asia Pacific had arguable claims of defamation and malicious falsehood, Singapore was not the appropriate venue for the case. The court determined that the matter would be best resolved in the United States.

As Musk endorses antisemitic conspiracy theory, X has been placing ads for Apple, Bravo, IBM, Oracle and Xfinity next to pro-Nazi content

— Media Matters for AmericaTitle of the article that prompted the lawsuit.

The dispute arose after Media Matters published an article titled “As Musk endorses antisemitic conspiracy theory, X has been placing ads for Apple, Bravo, IBM, Oracle and Xfinity next to pro-Nazi content.” The article drew a connection between advertisements on X and pro-Nazi content, as well as Elon Musk's alleged endorsement of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

The title of the Article drew a deliberate association between the placement of the advertisements next to pro-Nazi content, and Mr Musk’s alleged endorsement of antisemitic conspiracy theory.

— Judicial Commissioner Low Siew LingExplaining the basis for the defamation claim.

X Asia Pacific argued that Media Matters deliberately manipulated its feed to generate the association. The subsidiary claimed Media Matters used a separate account that exclusively followed a small number of users known for extreme content and major advertising clients, refreshing the feed at a much higher rate than a typical user to ensure a disproportionate number of ads appeared. Media Matters did not dispute these assertions in court.

The statement conveyed an impression to an ordinary, reasonable reader that the appearance of the advertisement reflected the “authentic experience of an average user of the X platform”.

— Judicial Commissioner Low Siew LingOn how the article's statements could be interpreted.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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