The fact that governments and respectable news organizations continue to use the social media app formerly known as Twitter has rankled for a while. When news of the AI bot's new feature of sexualizing images nonconsensually came to my attention, I couldn't just rant to friends anymore.
It was time for a letter:
Dear Mayor and city councillors
This message is addressed to the members who have a listing for Twitter on either their CoW page or their websites.
Please stop.
For more than a year, many major organizations have been officially deciding that the reach offered by the social media platform formerly known as Twitter is not worth supporting an almost-trillionaire who is completely comfortable with white supremacist rhetoric, spreading disinformation, displacing human labour with low-quality AI products, and, in only his most recent egregious act, allowing the platform to do non-consensual sexual violence through image manipulation.
https://www.wired.com/story/x-grok-app-store-nudify-csam-apple-google-content-moderation/
Other cities and organizations are way ahead of you: please get yourselves and the City of Winnipeg off Twitter.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/north-vancouver-x-exit-1.7438498
The new social media landscape is fractured. It's admittedly a challenge for public servants: how many channels do you need to get your messaging out to your constituents? I'm afraid the answer appears to be "many."
One exciting new possibility, whose reach initially will be limited, but will grow and will have positive digital sovereignty implications is Gander -- an all-Canadian social media platform:
For further information on data privacy accountability and the dark sides of US tech, note these articles from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/a-digital-infrastructure-plan/
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/no-sovereignty-without-digital-sovereignty/
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/every-data-centre-is-a-u-s-military-base/
Getting your information out just isn't worth engaging with a racism-promoting, disinformation-peddling, sexual-abuse-enabling platform.
Sincerely
On the upside, I discovered my new favourite Canadian Senator – from Alberta of all places!
You can learn about her here...
and watch her put CBC on the hotseat
Updates
“I think it is long past time for the government to stop using X as an official means of communication with Canadians. Why we are using government money to subsidize this site baffles me beyond understanding.”
OR
Other orgs who intentionally already
The Guardian – November 13, 2024
Guardian Media Group is a global news organisation that delivers fearless, investigative journalism - giving a voice to the powerless and holding power to account.
“We wanted to let readers know that we will no longer post on any official Guardian editorial accounts on the social media site X (formerly Twitter). We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere.”
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) – December 16, 2024
“Quakers worldwide leave X over harmful content. The move comes due to concerns over changes under Elon Musk's ownership, including increased levels of disinformation and hate. X's role in spreading harmful content and the erosion of journalistic integrity and public discourse directly contradict Quaker principles of truth and integrity, the faith group said.”
Supreme Court of Canada – February 26, 2025
“The Supreme Court of Canada says it’s moving away from the social media platform X. In a farewell post Wednesday to its more than 45,000 subscribers, the top court said it will focus its communication efforts on other platforms. The court invited people to follow its activities on its LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts.”
Broadview – April 8, 2025
Broadview is an independent Canadian magazine featuring award-winning coverage of spirituality, justice and ethical living.
“I don’t pretend that our departure from X is a grand political statement or constitutes meaningful activism. It won’t change the next four years or heal the hearts of those who believe America has lost its humanity. It does allow us to exit the echo chambers of hate and fear mongering, and to align our online presence with our values of compassion and equity.”
Editors Canada – May 8, 2025
“Editors Canada is discontinuing use of X as part of an effort to focus on platforms that align more closely with its communications strategy and organizational values.”
Sojourners – February 11, 2025
Sojourners is a Christian organization dedicated to social justice, peace, and faith-driven activism.
“After two and a half years of careful observation and thought, Sojourners is leaving X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.”
NOS – November 25, 2025
The NOS, as an integral part of public broadcasting, aims to be the primary source of information in the field of news, sports and events, so that Dutch citizens are better able to judge developments in the world, thereby improving their behavior. can better determine. (machine translated from NOS about page)
“...moderatie kan niet op het platform. Dat terwijl de hoeveelheid haatdragende reacties en desinformatie op X groot is en er onbelemmerd kan stromen. Ook onder onze eigen berichten, waardoor we onbedoeld bijdragen aan de verspreiding ervan. Het platform past niet meer bij onze visie op hoe wij nieuws willen aanbieden via sociale media.
Translated by Deepl:
“The platform no longer fits with our vision of how we want to present news via social media. This is no longer possible on X; moderation is not possible on the platform. This is despite the fact that there is a large amount of hateful comments and misinformation on X, which can flow freely. This also applies to our own posts, which means we are unintentionally contributing to their spread.”
Sign a petition to get the government of Canada off Xitter
Posted April 14 from news story Feb 25, 2026
“The Media Ecosystem Observatory report found that Elon Musk’s X was the epicentre of Canadian conspiracy content, accounting for 70 per cent of likes and the majority of posts.
“Despite being a hub for deepfake pornographic images and misinformation, the platform remains a primary communication tool for Canadian politicians. And evidence is mounting that its algorithms are shaping people’s beliefs.
“A study published last week in Nature found that the X platform’s algorithmic feed shifted users' stated political opinions to the right compared to a chronological feed.”
“One hundred accounts are behind the majority of conspiracy theory content in Canada”
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