More than 120,000 people are calling for the federal government to withdraw from the X platform. They are backing a petition by the Save Social initiative, which urges the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and federal ministries and authorities to leave the toxic network at last.
‘No power to oligarchs: Federal Government, get off X at last’ is the headline of a petition that garnered more than 120,000 signatures within six days. It is supported by a wide range of public figures and civil society organisations. The petition calls upon the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, ministries and government agencies to leave the X platform (formerly Twitter) immediately.
Voices from the coalition
The fact that more than 120,000 people have signed the petition in such a short space of time clearly demonstrates how long the German government has been overdue in withdrawing from X.
X’s algorithms primarily highlight content that polarises and divides society.
16 federal ministries still have an account on X:
Although some of these accounts have more than 100,000 followers, individual posts by the government often reach fewer than 1,000 people. This is clear evidence of the extent to which algorithms play down centrist issues.
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 Federal Government must now pull the plug on X.
Media studies academic 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.
Among the signatories of the petition are public figures such as Marina Weisband, Rocko Schamoni, Nina George, Matthias Matschke, Marc-Uwe Kling, Ralph Caspers, Ruth Moschner and Saša Stanišić; media studies academic Prof. Dr Gabriele Hooffacker; tech blogger Sascha Pallenberg; Felix Hlatky, Executive Director of Mastodon; and Prof. Martin Andrée, author of the book Krieg der Medien (War of the Media). The petition is also supported by 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.
It also stems from recent events: in early December, the European Commission imposed a €120 million fine on X for transparency breaches. X 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 enforcing the Digital Services Act.
Press contact
Enquiries to:
- Björn Staschen bjoern@savesocial.eu
