A broad coalition of public figures and civil society organisations is calling on the German government to leave the X platform in response to the overt threats made against the European Commission.
The petition, backed by the same coalition, is titled “No power to oligarchs: German government, get off X at last”. The petition calls on the chancellor, vice-chancellor, ministries and government agencies to leave the platform immediately.
Signatories include Rocko Schamoni, Nina George, Matthias Matschke, Marc-Uwe Kling, Ralph Caspers, Ruth Moschner, Marina Weisband and Saša Stanišić; media studies academic Prof. Dr Gabriele Hooffacker; tech blogger Sascha Pallenberg; Felix Hlatky, Executive Director of Mastodon; Prof. Martin Andree, author of the book Krieg der Medien (War of the Media); and the organisations Greenpeace, Digitalcourage, HateAid and the German Association for Data Protection. The petition was launched on Campact’s WeAct campaign platform by the Save Social initiative.
This is in response to events over the past few days. Last week, the European Commission fined X 120 million for transparency shortcomings. X’s owner, Elon Musk, subsequently called for the EU to be abolished. US Secretary of State Rubio described the decision as ‘an attack on all American platforms and the American people’, yet the European Commission is merely acting in accordance with the law, including the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Voices from the coalition
Hate speech, incitement, disinformation and coordinated attacks on journalists, academics, activists and marginalised groups are everyday occurrences on X.
Government communications must not lend these issues any legitimacy or amplification. The time has come for the Federal Government to shut down X.
Media studies academic Prof. Martin Andrée adds:
If a technology platform such as X pursues an openly anti-democratic agenda, the only solution is to adopt a zero-tolerance approach.
Björn Staschen, co-founder of Save Social, criticises:
A democratic government has a particular responsibility for the conditions under which public debates take place. By making key information and communications with the public available exclusively on X, the government is effectively forcing people to use this platform, despite the problematic content, lack of transparency in moderation, dubious corporate policies, and pressure on users to disclose their data.
Press contact
For enquiries:
- Björn Staschen bjoern@savesocial.eu
