Latest news with #Assemblymember
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Elon Musk's X Sues New York Over Hate Speech Law, Citing Free Speech Rights
Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has filed a lawsuit against the state of New York, aiming to block a recently passed law that mandates transparency around how platforms handle hate speech and other harmful content. The law, known as the Stop Hiding Hate Act, requires platforms to submit biannual reports outlining their definitions, moderation practices, and statistics related to hate speech, extremism, disinformation, harassment, and foreign political interference. Filed in a Manhattan federal court, the lawsuit argues that this requirement amounts to unconstitutional interference in X's editorial practices. According to a Reuters report, companies that fail to comply with the law may face penalties of up to $15,000 per violation per day. X maintains that the law violates the First Amendment by compelling platforms to disclose 'highly sensitive and controversial speech' and by forcing editorial decisions about what to report. 'This is not a role that the government may play,' the platform stated in its legal filing. It further argues that determining the boundaries of acceptable speech is inherently subjective and a matter for private platforms, not government legislation. The lawsuit draws parallels with a similar situation in California, where a comparable law was partially blocked by a federal appeals court in 2023. X and the state of California eventually reached a settlement in February 2024, allowing the platform to bypass the reporting requirements. The New York legislation, which passed in December 2024, was authored by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Grace Lee. The lawmakers argue the law is not about censorship but about accountability. They insist it simply ensures that social media firms are transparent about how they manage harmful content on their platforms. Responding to X's legal challenge, the lawmakers stated: 'Now more than ever... New Yorkers deserve to know what social media companies like X are doing (or not doing) to stop the spread of hatred and misinformation on their platforms.' They also called X a 'cesspool of hate speech' and criticized its historical lack of transparency regarding content moderation. Since Elon Musk acquired X in 2022, the platform has significantly scaled back its content moderation efforts. It disbanded the Trust and Safety Council and reinstated several accounts that were previously banned. According to a report by The Associated Press, watchdogs and researchers have noted a marked increase in hate speech and extremist content on the platform since Musk's takeover. Despite describing himself as a 'free speech absolutist,' Musk and X have also pursued legal action against researchers tracking the rise of harmful content. One such lawsuit against a nonprofit organization was dismissed by a federal judge in 2024. The platform has also been criticized for targeting journalists and media outlets that have published critical coverage. According to The Guardian, X has suspended accounts and restricted links from platforms Musk disapproved of. With its new lawsuit, X appears ready to replicate its California legal strategy in New York, signaling another high-profile clash between tech platforms and government regulation over content moderation and free expression.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Zohran Mamdani love life: How the NYC mayoral candidate found the one who loves art just as much as him
Image credits: Instagram/zohrankmamdani NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has been making headlines ever since the New York State Assemblymember stepped up as a candidate. The democratic socialist has surged in the mayor's race leaving behind former Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo. The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist candidate stands out not just for his unique policy proposals but also for his love story revealed alongside his campaign. The former rapper didn't fall in love with just anyone, he found a soulmate in a person who loves art just as much as him, his wife- Rama Duwaji. A love bound by art and soul Image credits: Instagram/zohrankmamdani Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji's love is one bound in art. Mamdani, previously rapped under the moniker Mr Cardamom and even collaborated with popular cookbook authors and actress Madhur Jaffrey for his 2019 single 'Nani.' He is also known to be a fan of hip-hop music. Recently, he released a campaign video on X filled with iconic Bollywood scenes and music, where he explained the voting process in Hindi and highlighted his agenda. His wife, Rama Duwaji is not far behind him in her love for all things creative. The 27-year-old Syrian artist holds a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts. Her illustrations have appeared in prestigious publications such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and VICE. She is also an animator and ceramicist. Image credits: Instagram/zohrankmamdani Mamdani recently shared photos from their New York City civil ceremony on Instagram writing, "Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerk's office. Rama isn't just my wife, she's an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms." Even the couple's wedding photos were a unique artistic expression, clicked on the subway and the streets with Mamdani donning a traditional attire and Duwaji in a white knee-length dress with boots. It speaks of how the couple is bound by love but differs in personalities, accepting both for their rarity. Zohran once shared how Rama had influenced his fashion too, recommending him to drop skinny jeans and gifting him two pieces he dons daily- a Casio watch and a handmade ring. Before their NYC ceremony, the couple tied the knot in a formal nikkah ceremony on December 22nd, 2024 in Dubai, where Duwaji's family resides. The ceremony was described as intimate, and traditional, with a minimalist and modern aesthetic that reflected the couple's personalities. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fights over experience, records break out at NYC mayoral debate
NEW YORK (PIX11) – Democratic candidates for New York City mayor took aim at Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani during Thursday night's debate. Early voting in the Democratic primary starts on Saturday. Political strategist and professor at the University of Mount St. Vincent J.C. Polanco discusses the debate on PIX11 Morning News. Watch the video player for the full interview. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
De Blasio watches with glee as candidates attack Cuomo in NYC mayoral debate
NEW YORK — As mayoral hopefuls in Thursday night's Democratic primary debate landed sharp rejoinders against frontrunner Andrew Cuomo, one of the former governor's old foes broke out the popcorn. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio fired off a series ofgleeful postson X that reveled in the broadsides against Cuomo and lauded the performances of Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who is polling second behind Cuomo. 'Wow, @andrewcuomo is REALLY scared of @ZohranKMamdani! He's not even faking it…' de Blasio wrote. 'And Andrew is REALLY disrespecting all the New Yorkers who support Zohran.' City Comptroller Brad Lander was 'attacking consistently and really rattling Cuomo,' wrote de Blasio, who said the former governor's self-proclaimed executive experience consisted of harassing female employees and making decisions that resulted in the death of nursing home residents during Covid. The ex-mayor — who spent eight years being tormented by the former governor over issues as quotidian as how to euthanize a deer — called into question the governor's housing record, accused him of dodging a question about the Rent Guidelines Board and lampooned Cuomo's characterization of the subway as infested with crime. The former governor, of course, had responses for the attacks coming from the dais. He said a report that found he sexually harassed underlings — accusations he has denied — did not result in any criminal charges and was created to hurt him politically. He said his nursing home edicts were consistent with federal guidance during the height of Covid. He has cast the city as poorly run and falling into disrepair on account of the leadership of de Blasio and his successor, New York City Mayor Eric Adams. And he had sharp responses to Mamdani and others over their own legislative records and policies far to the left of his own. But de Blasio's sustained pile-on reinforced the acrimonious relationship between the two executives and appeared to be almost cathartic for the the former mayor. 'Is @andrewcuomo mimicking dialogue from the 1950's?' de Blasio wrote. 'I fully expect Gregory Peck or Jimmy Stewart to join him on stage.' Asked over text message Thursday night if he planned to make an endorsement, de Blasio took a much more laconic approach: "Nope."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
De Blasio watches with glee as candidates attack Cuomo in NYC mayoral debate
NEW YORK — As mayoral hopefuls in Thursday night's Democratic primary debate landed sharp rejoinders against frontrunner Andrew Cuomo, one of the former governor's old foes broke out the popcorn. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio fired off a series ofgleeful postson X that reveled in the broadsides against Cuomo and lauded the performances of Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who is polling second behind Cuomo. 'Wow, @andrewcuomo is REALLY scared of @ZohranKMamdani! He's not even faking it…' de Blasio wrote. 'And Andrew is REALLY disrespecting all the New Yorkers who support Zohran.' City Comptroller Brad Lander was 'attacking consistently and really rattling Cuomo,' wrote de Blasio, who said the former governor's self-proclaimed executive experience consisted of harassing female employees and making decisions that resulted in the death of nursing home residents during Covid. The ex-mayor — who spent eight years being tormented by the former governor over issues as quotidian as how to euthanize a deer — called into question the governor's housing record, accused him of dodging a question about the Rent Guidelines Board and lampooned Cuomo's characterization of the subway as infested with crime. The former governor, of course, had responses for the attacks coming from the dais. He said a report that found he sexually harassed underlings — accusations he has denied — did not result in any criminal charges and was created to hurt him politically. He said his nursing home edicts were consistent with federal guidance during the height of Covid. He has cast the city as poorly run and falling into disrepair on account of the leadership of de Blasio and his successor, New York City Mayor Eric Adams. And he had sharp responses to Mamdani and others over their own legislative records and policies far to the left of his own. But de Blasio's sustained pile-on reinforced the acrimonious relationship between the two executives and appeared to be almost cathartic for the the former mayor. 'Is @andrewcuomo mimicking dialogue from the 1950's?' de Blasio wrote. 'I fully expect Gregory Peck or Jimmy Stewart to join him on stage.' Asked over text message Thursday night if he planned to make an endorsement, de Blasio took a much more laconic approach: "Nope."
