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SpaceX's X and WFA settle GARM-linked advertiser boycott litigation
The settlement follows a March decision in which a U.S. judge dismissed X's antitrust case, saying it failed to show harm under federal law.
SpaceX's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) said they have settled their litigation tied to an alleged advertiser boycott connected to the now-defunct Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM). The parties described the deal as a reset in relations between X and the advertising trade body, after months of legal dispute over brand safety standards.
The settlement comes after a March ruling in which a U.S. judge dismissed X's antitrust lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle said in Dallas that X had failed to show it suffered harm under federal antitrust law.
X filed the lawsuit in 2024 alleging that advertisers, acting through WFA's GARM initiative, collectively withheld billions of dollars in advertising spending from the platform due to disagreements over content moderation policies. In its statement, WFA reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of speech, noting the principle has been in its constitution since 1953.
The WFA said it permanently discontinued GARM in August 2024 and will not revive the initiative or create a similar program. Both organizations also said they agreed that brands, platforms and consumers would benefit from continued innovation in brand safety, according to their joint announcement.