Germany considering leaving X over its algorithms

The German government is rethinking its presence on social media platform X due to concerns over its algorithms.
“This is a permanent consideration that we have to make again and again,” a spokesperson of the German government told Reuters after a live talk between X owner Elon Musk and political leader of Germany’s far-right party AfD Alice Weidel.
The spokeswoman added that X and other social media platforms have algorithms that do not promote “a calm, objective and balanced discourse, but rather one that tends to be agitated and polarizing.”
In order to not make a hasty decision, the government of prime minister Olaf Scholtz has decided to remain active on the platform for the time being.
Musk has become pretty involved in European politics, suggesting among other things that “only AfD can save Germany” and Scholtz should resign immediately.
Several European leaders have criticized Musk’s involvement, saying they consider it ‘unlawful interfering’ with internal political affairs.
“We act as if Mister Musk’s statements on Twitter could influence a nation of 84 million people with disinformation, half-truths, or opinions. That’s simply not true,” Scholtz replied to Musk’s public outbursts.
Musk previously made statements about sexual child abuse by primarily Pakistani men in the United Kingdom. According to the entrepreneur and billionaire, British prime minister Keir Starmer failed to prosecute gangs of child molesters during his time as head of the Public Prosecution Service. Starmer responded by stating that Musk was spreading lies and disinformation.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also criticized Musk for his sentiments. “If we had been told ten years ago that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new reactionary international movement and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany, who would have believed it?” he recently said.
Germany isn’t the only country in Europe that’s debating the presence of government organizations on social media. Last week, five civil society organizations in the Netherlands wrote an open letter to prime minister Dick Schoof, asking the government to immediately leave social media platforms like X and Instagram.
Like the German government, the Netherlands will not quit social media for the time being. “I think the Dutch government will lose an important communication medium the moment it decides to leave Meta or other social media platforms,” Prime Minister Schoof said in a statement.
Last year, the Dutch data protection authority (DPA) recommended the government to leave Facebook due to its privacy risks for citizens. Former secretary of Economic Affairs Micky Adriaansens spoke with Meta about the privacy risks of Facebook, but said that a new government has to decide whether to stay present or leave Facebook.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked