Court Rules Musk's Tweet Protected Speech

A divided U.S. appeals court ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overstepped its authority by ordering Tesla CEO Elon Musk to delete a 2018 tweet that suggested employees would lose stock options if they unionized. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined, in a 9-8 vote, that Musk's tweet is protected speech under the First Amendment, stating that 'deleting the speech of private citizens on topics of public concern' is not a traditional remedy in American law. The court did not decide whether the tweet violated the National Labor Relations Act and has instructed the NLRB to reassess its decision to reinstate a pro-union employee who was fired. This ruling highlights the ongoing tensions between labor rights and free speech, especially in the context of Musk's history of contentious tweets regarding labor issues. Dissenting judges criticized the ruling for being 'light on law and facts.' The case underscores the complex landscape of labor relations and corporate governance as Musk continues to navigate his position as a prominent business leader.