Opening the cage: the FSFE flies away from X (Twitter)
The Free Software Foundation Europe deleted its account on X. The platform never aligned with our values and no longer serves as a space for communication. What initially intended to be a place for dialogue and information exchange has turned into a centralised arena of hostility, misinformation, and profit-driven control, far removed from the ideals of freedom we stand for.
Since Elon Musk acquired the social network formerly known as Twitter and rebranded it as X, the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) has been closely monitoring the developments of this proprietary platform, a space we were never comfortable joining, yet one that was once important for reaching members of society who were not active in our preferred spaces for interaction. Over time, it has become increasingly hostile, with misinformation, harassment, and hate speech more visible than ever.
The FSFE initially joined Twitter as it offered a space to promote the Free Software values and to interact with policymakers, journalists, and above all, reaching to people who were not yet familiar with Free Software and its benefits. The social network was another tool the FSFE used to share information about our initiatives, to explain to users their right to control our technology, and to promote software freedom across society, while also encouraging the use of alternative, decentralised social media networks.
However, the current platform direction and climate combined with an algorithm that prioritises hatred, polarisation, and sensationalism, alongside growing privacy and data protection concerns, has led us to the decision to part ways with this platform.
Consequently, the FSFE decided to permanently delete its account on X. We keep being active on some other proprietary platforms in order to reach a wider part of society, journalists, and decision makers.
At the same time, we strongly encourage everyone who shares our commitment to digital freedom and decentralisation to join us in the Fediverse. Unlike proprietary platforms driven by profit and centralised control, the Fediverse empowers users to choose how and where they connect, ensuring transparency, autonomy, and resilience. Follow the FSFE on Mastodon and Peertube!