This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and the journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, and more.
Federal Judge Sides with Elon Musk and X in AI Deepfake Law Challenge
A federal judge ruled in favor of Elon Musk and X (formerly Twitter), striking down a California law that required social media platforms to remove AI-generated election-related deepfake content within 72 hours of being reported. Judge John Mendez cited Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms from liability for user content, stating that X was not responsible for the contested videos. The ruling did not address free speech arguments raised by Musk and others. The law was enacted following the circulation of fake political videos and rising concern over AI’s role in elections. Mendez also indicated he would likely overturn a related law requiring labels on digitally altered political ads. Read More (Washington Examiner Rating)
Media Matters Fights FTC Probe, Alleges Retaliation for Reporting on X Ads
Media Matters has filed new court documents, claiming that the FTC’s investigation into the organization is politically motivated and violates First Amendment protections. The probe, linked to a November 2023 report criticizing ad placements alongside pro-Nazi content on X, demands access to sensitive internal documents. Media Matters argues that the FTC is targeting them unfairly while ignoring similar conduct by conservative groups, such as the Daily Wire. The FTC maintains that its inquiry relates to potential unlawful advertiser boycotts, not Media Matters’ speech. A court hearing is scheduled for August 13. Read More (MediaPost Rating)
Meta Removes 6.8 Million WhatsApp Accounts in Global Scam Crackdown
Meta has disabled 6.8 million WhatsApp accounts involved in scam operations, many of which were traced to Southeast Asian scam centers. These campaigns, often involving AI-generated recruitment messages, trick users with fake job offers and redirect them across multiple platforms. One highlighted operation started with messages written using ChatGPT in several languages, leading users through Telegram and TikTok in a pyramid scheme. Meta introduced new protective features, including alerts when users are added to group chats by strangers. The FTC reported $2.7 billion in social media fraud losses from 2021 to mid-2023. Read More (The Hill Rating)
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