Leaked documents expose CCDH’s plan to ‘kill Musk’s Twitter’ ahead of U.S. election

In a development with significant implications for the upcoming U.S. presidential election, leaked internal documents from the British nonprofit organization, the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), have surfaced.

The documents allegedly reveal a coordinated effort to undermine Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, with the explicit goal to “kill Musk’s Twitter” by pressuring advertisers to withdraw support. These revelations, brought to light by journalists Paul D. Thacker and Matt Taibbi on their Substack ‘The DisInformation Chronicle,’ outline a broader strategy by CCDH, which has strong ties to both the U.K.'s Labour Party and U.S. Democrats, particularly the Biden/Harris administration.

According to the leaked documents, dating back to early 2024, CCDH’s top priority was a campaign titled "Kill Musk’s Twitter" to financially destabilize the platform. This plan, focusing on harassing advertisers, reflects the broader political goals of CCDH’s founder, Morgan McSweeney. McSweeney, a British political operative, played a central role in Labour Party leader Keir Starmer’s rise to power and is now advising U.S. Democrats, including Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The documents raise serious questions about the intersection of nonprofit advocacy and political maneuvering. While CCDH markets itself as an anti-misinformation organization, the leak reveals a more politically motivated agenda. One of its top objectives is to “trigger EU and UK regulatory action” against platforms like Twitter, further blurring the line between its stated mission and its actions. According to IRS regulations, CCDH’s tax-exempt status could be at risk if it is found that its activities primarily aim to influence legislation.

McSweeney's Influence Across the Atlantic

McSweeney’s influence extends beyond his role in the U.K. Labour Party. He also spearheaded the Labour Together initiative, a neoliberal think tank closely aligned with Starmer's government. CCDH has adopted aggressive tactics under McSweeney’s leadership, using accusations of bigotry and misinformation to silence opposition voices on both the Left and Right by pressuring advertisers to cut funding.

One of CCDH’s most notable successes was its campaign against The Canary, a left-leaning U.K. news outlet accused of antisemitism due to its pro-Palestinian stance. CCDH's efforts caused a significant loss of advertising revenue for the site, which critics argue was part of McSweeney’s broader strategy to consolidate power within Labour by marginalizing opponents.

In the U.S., CCDH has been actively engaged in similar efforts, meeting with lawmakers to push for stricter online censorship and platform regulation. The leaked documents show that CCDH held multiple meetings with U.S. legislators, advocating for the adoption of its "STAR framework" — a proposal for an independent digital regulator similar to the European Union’s Digital Services Act. This regulatory push has led to concerns that CCDH’s activities may be more aligned with political censorship than anti-disinformation efforts.

Targeting Musk's Twitter

CCDH’s focus on Elon Musk’s Twitter follows a familiar pattern. By targeting advertisers, the group aims to weaken Twitter’s financial stability. A task assignment from early 2024 shows CCDH planning meetings with 16 congressional offices over two weeks to provide updates on Musk’s lawsuit against the organization. The lawsuit, which has since been dismissed, accused CCDH of manipulating data to create a false narrative of increasing hate speech on Twitter.

The leaked documents also reveal that CCDH's efforts to push regulatory change are coupled with concerns about potential violations of U.S. lobbying laws. One note from a January meeting highlights the need to clarify whether CCDH's activities constitute lobbying, showing a level of awareness about the legal risks involved.

U.S. and U.K. Political Connections

The close relationship between CCDH, Labour Together, and U.S. Democrats has drawn criticism, especially from conservative figures. Trump ally Sebastian Gorka labeled the cooperation between British political operatives and U.S. campaigns as “a bloody outrage,” emphasizing concerns about foreign influence in U.S. elections. McSweeney’s advisory role in the Harris and Walz campaigns has raised questions about the appropriateness of such cross-national political collaborations.

McSweeney’s rise within the Labour Party has been marked by his ability to attract wealthy donors and effectively manage fundraising efforts. His promotion to Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff after the resignation of Sue Gray further solidified his position within the party. However, the relationship between McSweeney’s Labour and the Democrats is not just limited to strategy-sharing. Labour staffers have reportedly been canvassing for Harris and Walz in recent months, highlighting the deepening ties between the two political parties.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

The leaked documents raise legal and ethical concerns about CCDH's tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. According to the IRS, an organization risks losing its tax-exempt status if a substantial part of its activities is aimed at influencing legislation. CCDH’s meetings with lawmakers and its focus on regulatory action could be interpreted as lobbying, which may jeopardize its standing.

As CCDH’s involvement in both U.S. and U.K. politics comes under increased scrutiny, questions about the nonprofit’s true motivations continue to grow. CCDH's targeting of Musk’s Twitter and its broader political agenda raise concerns about the role of nonprofit organizations in influencing public discourse, elections, and legislation.

Conclusion

The leaked CCDH documents provide a glimpse into the increasingly intertwined relationships between political operatives in the U.K. and U.S. Under McSweeney’s leadership, CCDH has become a key player in shaping online discourse, using aggressive tactics to silence dissent and influence political outcomes. While CCDH's efforts are framed as a fight against disinformation, the revelations about its methods and objectives are likely to spark further debate about the role of nonprofits in shaping policy and elections, particularly as the 2024 U.S. presidential race approaches.