Cyber Harassment Lawsuit Targets JK Rowling and Elon Musk

Algerian boxer and Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif has filed a cyber harassment lawsuit against X (formerly Twitter) in Paris, naming JK Rowling and Elon Musk as individuals who contributed to the online abuse she faced during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The lawsuit alleges that Khelif received a massive amount of online hate and false accusations about her gender, including from high-profile accounts with millions of followers.

According to the complaint, Rowling shared several posts about Khelif, some of which were viewed tens of millions of times. In one post, she referred to Khelif as a “man” and a “bullying cheat,” likely in reference to the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision to disqualify Khelif from the 2023 world championships due to an unspecified test that the IBA claimed gave her “competitive advantages over other female competitors.”

Musk, meanwhile, shared a post by American swimmer Riley Gaines reading, “Men don’t belong in women’s sports,” with the X owner commenting, “Absolutely.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) responded to the controversy, stating that the two athletes had been competing in international boxing competitions for years and were victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA.

Khelif went on to win a gold medal in the women’s 66kg category, and a few days later, she filed the complaint. The Paris prosecutor’s office will now investigate the counts of cyber harassment due to gender, public insult because of gender, public incitement to discrimination, and public insult because of origin.

This high-profile lawsuit highlights the need for online platforms to take action against cyber harassment and ensure a safe and respectful environment for all users.