Exiting X: Major German universities are leaving Musk's platform in protest

It was reported today in the Geman press that dozens of the most important large universities in the country are leaving Elon Musk’s X platform in protest against its increasingly radical direction. The universities involved include the Free University of Berlin, the University of Münster, and RWTH Aachen University.

The reason given was that X controverts fundamental values of the university, such as cultural openness and scientific integrity.

The universities’ exit from X was described as underscoring their commitment to fact-based communication and rejection of antidemocratic tendencies. These values, which encourage diversity, freedom, and science, are no longer present on X.

This follows Elon Musk’s recent interview with Alice Weidel, head of the far-right AfD party, during which Weidel claimed, among other falsehoods, that the AfD is “the only party in Germany that protects Jewish life.” Many representatives of the Jewish community in Germany, including the Central Council of Jews (Zentralrat der Juden), have stated in the past that the AfD is a racist and anti-Semitic party which practices Holocaust denial.

It’s admittedly difficult for some to avoid X entirely, but the step taken by the universities is encouraging nevertheless because it sets a prominent example.