Paris Ditches X as Macron Courts Musk: EU’s Free Speech Debate Rages
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo deactivated her X account in late 2023, citing the platform’s role in spreading disinformation and hate speech as a threat to democracy. Hidalgo’s statement condemned X’s lack of content moderation and its contribution to societal polarization, characterizing it as a “weapon of mass destruction.” The city of Paris affirmed its commitment to factual information and peaceful discourse, highlighting the platform’s detrimental impact on objective communication. This decision follows Elon Musk’s 2022 acquisition of X (formerly Twitter), and reflects growing concerns about the platform’s impact on public discourse.
John Q. Hosedrinker