GERMANY’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (Fada) said today it was quitting X because of “an enormous rise” in hate speech.

Hateful comments and disinformation had “increased particularly” since Elon Musk took over ownership of the platform last year, Fada wrote on X.

“Due to the enormous increase in trans and queer hostility, racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism and other misanthropic content, in our opinion, X is no longer an acceptable environment” for a public body, it said.

Previously blocked far-right accounts have been reactivated and the option to buy verification ticks has allowed “troll factories” to increase their reach and spread propaganda, Fada said.

More than 160 rabbis, artists and leaders of Jewish organisations had recently called out the growing anti-Semitic discourse on X, it noted.

The agency urged Germany’s ministries and other public bodies to “ask themselves whether it is still acceptable to remain” on X. – AFP, October 11, 2023.