X settles legal battle with World Federation of Advertisers
Elon Musk's X has reached a settlement with the World Federation for Advertisers (WFA), ending a multiyear legal dispute. The lawsuit, initiated in 2024, accused WFA and its Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) of orchestrating an illegal boycott by major advertisers like Mars, CVS Health, Shell, and Lego after Musk's acquisition of Twitter/X in 2022. Advertisers had reduced spending due to concerns over brand safety amid changes to X’s content moderation policies. A federal court dismissed the case earlier this year for lack of demonstrated harm under competition laws, but X appealed until now. The settlement statement emphasizes a reset between WFA and X Corp., with both parties agreeing that brands should have freedom in where they advertise while aligning on brand-safety innovation. In August 2024, WFA discontinued GARM and pledged not to restart similar initiatives. This resolution marks the end of one of Musk’s most high-profile legal battles over advertiser relations following his acquisition of X.
Topics: advertising boycott Elon Musk GARM WFA X (Twitter)