SpaceX, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the UK Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, in central England, on November 1, 2023.
LEON NEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Elon Musk's X platform has won its lawsuit against the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), which has announced its dissolution following their loss in the legal battle, as reported by CNN.
GARM, a voluntary initiative operated by the World Federation of Advertisers, was established in 2019 in response to concerns over brand safety following the Christchurch mosque shootings.
The nonprofit advertising group, which was known for its role in helping brands avoid placing ads alongside harmful or illegal content, has decided to cease its activities due to the financial strain and public scrutiny resulting from the legal battle.
According to another report by CNN, X's lawsuit claimed that GARM was involved in a coordinated effort to boycott advertising on its platform, alleging that the group and its members were conspiring to withhold billions of dollars in ad revenue.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Texas, named several major companies, including CVS, Unilever, Mars, and Ørsted, as defendants. X argued that GARM's actions were detrimental to its advertising revenue and overall business.
Although GARM has stated it will continue to defend itself in court, its dissolution represents a temporary win for X.
CEO, Linda Yaccarino has expressed hope that this outcome might lead to reforms in the ad industry.
The dissolution of GARM is expected to have far-reaching implications for the advertising industry and media watchdogs, consideringt that the group's closure follows a series of legal disputes involving X. This includes multiple lawsuits against other watchdog organizations like the Center for Countering Digital Hate and Media Matters.
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