A Welsh police force has made the decision to completely withdraw from X, stating that the social media platform no longer aligns with their values. This move comes as police forces across the UK have been scaling back their use of the platform since Elon Musk took over, following instances where misinformation on the site sparked far-right riots earlier this year.
Formerly known as Twitter, X has been a vital communication channel for emergency services, the British government, and even the royal family. However, six police forces have now informed Reuters that they are reducing their presence on the platform to just one or two accounts. Notably, North Wales Police, which serves nearly 700,000 residents, ceased using X entirely in August.
Chief constable Amanda Blakeman explained the force’s decision, stating that they felt the platform no longer reflected their values, and therefore, they chose to discontinue its use. Meanwhile, Gwent Police has removed all individual officer accounts, and West Yorkshire Police is currently evaluating whether X still serves their need to engage with their target audience and build trust within the community.
The role of social media platforms like X has come under scrutiny this year, particularly when online misinformation led to violent incidents. Critics have accused Elon Musk of allowing disinformation to proliferate on X since his acquisition and rebranding of the platform in 2022. Despite these criticisms, Musk has defended his stance by arguing that he is championing freedom of speech.
During his tenure, Musk has reportedly let go of 80% of X’s workforce and re-instated previously banned users such as Donald Trump, Andrew Tate, and Tommy Robinson. Following the unrest, the government has pledged to investigate the impact of social media misinformation on public safety, with the home secretary vowing to implement stricter regulations on online platforms as part of the Online Safety Act.
Requests for comment on these developments have been made to both X and North Wales Police. This decision by the Welsh police force to distance themselves from X reflects broader concerns about the spread of misinformation and the responsibility of social media platforms to address such issues in today’s digital landscape.