<p><em>By Iain Rogers</em></p><p>Germany’s independent antidiscrimination commissioner has urged the government to shut down its X accounts, saying the Elon Musk-owned social media platform has become “an instrument of political influence for the world’s richest man.”</p><p>As well as directing <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-03/chancellor-scholz-s-recipe-against-musk-s-attacks-stay-cool" rel="noopener noreferrer">personal attacks</a> against Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in recent weeks, Musk has repeatedly praised the far-right Alternative for Germany party, prompting accusations he’s trying to influence next month’s snap election.</p><p>Antidiscrimination Commissioner Ferda Ataman, who is nominated by the government and appointed by lawmakers, said her impression is that German officials are afraid to quit X as it will become “a political issue,” but argued that it’s “really necessary” as it’s “not a reputable platform.”</p>.France's Foreign Minister urges tougher EU action on Elon Musk. <p>“If you consider the Constitution or our expectations for democracy, our expectations for non-discriminatory discourse, then you cannot actually continue to be present on this platform as a state body with a clear conscience,” Ataman was <a href="https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/bundesregierung-x-ataman-100.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">quoted as saying</a> Wednesday by public broadcaster ARD.</p><p>The German government, which has numerous X accounts along with most of the country’s top politicians, has said it regularly reviews its social media strategy, while arguing that it needs to maintain a presence “where people are looking for information.”</p><p>Read More: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-08/german-conservatives-embrace-hard-line-on-migrants-to-combat-afd" rel="noopener noreferrer">German Conservatives Embrace Hard Line on Migrants to Combat AfD</a></p><p>“We do not force anyone to become a customer on this platform,” Steffen Hebestreit, Scholz’s chief spokesman, said Monday at the regular government news conference when asked about Musk’s posts.</p><p>“But those who are there will then receive first-hand, reliable information from the federal government, and that’s what it’s all about,” he added.</p>
<p><em>By Iain Rogers</em></p><p>Germany’s independent antidiscrimination commissioner has urged the government to shut down its X accounts, saying the Elon Musk-owned social media platform has become “an instrument of political influence for the world’s richest man.”</p><p>As well as directing <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-03/chancellor-scholz-s-recipe-against-musk-s-attacks-stay-cool" rel="noopener noreferrer">personal attacks</a> against Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in recent weeks, Musk has repeatedly praised the far-right Alternative for Germany party, prompting accusations he’s trying to influence next month’s snap election.</p><p>Antidiscrimination Commissioner Ferda Ataman, who is nominated by the government and appointed by lawmakers, said her impression is that German officials are afraid to quit X as it will become “a political issue,” but argued that it’s “really necessary” as it’s “not a reputable platform.”</p>.France's Foreign Minister urges tougher EU action on Elon Musk. <p>“If you consider the Constitution or our expectations for democracy, our expectations for non-discriminatory discourse, then you cannot actually continue to be present on this platform as a state body with a clear conscience,” Ataman was <a href="https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/bundesregierung-x-ataman-100.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">quoted as saying</a> Wednesday by public broadcaster ARD.</p><p>The German government, which has numerous X accounts along with most of the country’s top politicians, has said it regularly reviews its social media strategy, while arguing that it needs to maintain a presence “where people are looking for information.”</p><p>Read More: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-08/german-conservatives-embrace-hard-line-on-migrants-to-combat-afd" rel="noopener noreferrer">German Conservatives Embrace Hard Line on Migrants to Combat AfD</a></p><p>“We do not force anyone to become a customer on this platform,” Steffen Hebestreit, Scholz’s chief spokesman, said Monday at the regular government news conference when asked about Musk’s posts.</p><p>“But those who are there will then receive first-hand, reliable information from the federal government, and that’s what it’s all about,” he added.</p>