X CEO: Protect ‘Free Speech’ While Combatting ‘Hate Speech’

X CEO Linda Yaccarino wrote in a blog post that while “society’s progress” calls for the freedom of speech, the line must be drawn at “hate.”

“To drive humanity forward, society must empower people to express their thoughts, make up their own minds, but also draw the line at hate,” she wrote, emphasizing, “This is tough to do, but absolutely crucial.”

“For all the good, there’s also a point when information independence crosses a line too, and that’s hate speech,” Yaccarino added.

She explained that hate speech has “accelerated” since the October 7th attack against Israel.

“Sadly, since the October 7th terrorist attack antisemitism and hate speech have accelerated in the world,” she wrote. “Hate speech completely corrodes our society, it divides people, and threatens the very order that affords us the lives we have. It’s all our duty to combat hate speech – in our communities and on every platform.”

“Because freedom of speech and safety can and must coexist,” Yaccarino asserted. “And the future of democracy and the global economy depends on it.”

“Our mandate at X is clear: we must protect free speech, safeguard information independence while tackling antisemitism and hate speech. Through our collective technologies and human potential we can create a safer and more inclusive environment for everyone – giving way for information independence to be a force for good. It won’t happen overnight, but we must start now.”

During last year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) summit, European Commission VP Věra Jourová said that the United States will eventually enact laws that criminalize “hate speech.”

Jourová made the comment during a CNN-hosted session discussing disinformation.

“We need the people who understand the language and the case law in the country,” Jourová said. “Because what qualifies as hate speech, illegal hate speech—which you will have soon also in the U.S.—we have a strong reason why we have this in the criminal law.”