British Police reassess engagement with X amid concerns over growing disinformation

North Wales Police is among the first to withdraw from X

British police forces are reassessing their engagement with X, amid growing concerns about extremist content and disinformation on social media platforms.

As reported by Reuters, several forces have now reduced their activity on X or abandoned the platform altogether.

X, which has been an important communication tool for the British government and public services is facing scrutiny over its role in disseminating disinformation that contributed to widespread riots across Britain this summer. Additionally, the reinstatement of British-based accounts previously banned for extremist content has further raised concerns about the platform's moderation efforts.

Critics argue that Musk's hands-off approach has allowed hate speech to proliferate on X.

A survey of British police forces conducted by Reuters found that many are actively reviewing their social media strategies, with several cutting back their X presence. Some forces have even abandoned the platform entirely, citing concerns about the platform's alignment with their values and its effectiveness in reaching their communities.

North Wales Police, serving nearly 700,000 residents, was one of the first to withdraw from X.

Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman stated that the platform no longer aligned with the force's values.

"We ... felt that the platform was no longer consistent with our values and therefore we have withdrawn our use of it," Blakeman said.

Other forces, such as Gwent Police and West Yorkshire Police, have also expressed concerns about the tone of the platform and its ability to reach their target audience.

They are currently reviewing their X presence to determine whether it remains a valuable tool for community engagement.

X user numbers are dropping

In addition to law enforcement, various organisations such as charities, health institutions, and educational establishments have also chosen to stop posting on X.

Out of 32 ambulance and fire services surveyed by Reuters, nine reported that they had actively reassessed their presence on the platform.

This summer's riots, fuelled by online misinformation, highlighted the potential dangers of social media platforms. Far right and racist violence erupted after false claims circulated on X that an attack in Southport, where three young girls were killed, was perpetrated by an Islamist migrant.

Elon Musk's ownership of X has further exacerbated concerns. His support for right-wing activists who have accused British police of "two-tier policing" along with his post in August that civil war in the UK was “inevitable” and his defence of freedom of speech without adequate moderation have raised serious doubts about the platform's commitment to combating hate speech and disinformation.

While police forces deny that their reviews of X engagement are directly linked to this summer's riots, the platform's decline in popularity and the growing concerns about its content have prompted many to reconsider their use.

Digital analytics company Similarweb estimates a significant drop in X's user base in Britain and the United States over the past year.

Experts suggest that authorities should be selective in their choice of social media platforms, acknowledging that each platform has its own distinct identity and can shape the nature of the content and discussions that occur on it.

Last month, the widely used and often controversial messaging platform Telegram announced that it would begin sharing users' IP addresses and phone numbers with authorities in response to valid legal requests, aiming to curb criminal activity on the platform.

This change is likely a response to Telegram's increasing reputation as a haven for illegal activities, including the trading of child abuse imagery and the publication of terror-related content.

The platform was also used to coordinate much of the online activity behind the summer riots in the UK.