Starting Nov. 15, social media platform X will require all lawsuits against it to be filed in Texas.
According to the new Terms of Service, the State of Texas will govern the terms and any dispute that may arise between X and its users. Additionally, all disputes related to the terms or the services will be brought exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas or any state court located in Tarrant County.
If the user is a federal, state, or local government entity in the U.S. using X’s services in its official capacity and is “legally unable to accept the controlling law, jurisdiction or venue clauses above,” then the aforementioned rules regarding the State of Texas overseeing lawsuits will not apply.
A person bringing a lawsuit against X must “initiate any proceeding or action within one (1) year of the date of the occurrence of the event or facts giving rise to a dispute that is arising out of or related to these Terms.”
So far, both former CNN host Don Lemon, news outlet The Guardian, and MSNBC host Joy Reid have said they will be leaving the social media platform and no longer posting on X following the news.
Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare wrote on X, stating the platform’s owner, Elon Musk, knows that Tarrant County will uphold the rule of law in the event of a lawsuit.
“On Nov. 15, the Terms of Service require all lawsuits against @X to be filed in Texas courts – either Federal District Court in the Northern District or Tarrant County District Courts,” wrote O’Hare. “Why? Because @elonmusk knows Tarrant County will uphold the rule of law, won’t illegally weaponize our courts, and will protect free speech.”
Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French shared similar sentiments, telling Texas Scorecard that Musk knows he will get a fair trial in the county.
“Tarrant County is becoming the stronghold for conservative values and common sense. Elon knows if he wants a fair trial, he has to have Republican judges,” said French. “This is another massive vote of confidence in what we are doing here in Tarrant County.”
Texas Scorecard reached out to X but did not receive a response by publication.
