Culture secretary quits X in protest at 'misinformation'

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Culture secretary quits X in protest at 'misinformation'Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The culture department has become the second government department to leave the platformByJames GregoryPolitical reporterPublished13 minutes agoCulture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced she and her department are leaving Elon Musk's X platform. Explaining her decision in what seemingly will be her last post on X, external, Nandy said the platform "isn't healthy for our democracy or our communities and I don't want to support it". "A platform originally designed for free speech and expression now favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate," she wrote.

The culture department becomes the second government department to stop using X after the attorney general's office, while several MPs also left the platform earlier this year over reports its AI tool was being used to create sexualised images. Nandy said she would continue to use Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Attorney General Lord Hermer defended his decision to ban his office from posting on X last month, telling MPs it "constantly descends to racism and misogyny" and that his department "can do better".

The Details

"I can understand why other departments feel they need to be on the pitch engaging with people, but that is not where the attorney general's office needs to be," Lord Hermer told the Justice Committee in June. "For the work that I can do, I can engage with people in serious debate, detailed debate, respectful debate, without being on a platform that constantly descends to racism and misogyny. "Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accused Musk of using his platform to "whip up division" in the UK over the murder of student Henry Nowak last month.

There were violent protests in Southampton following the release of bodycam footage showing police handcuffing 18-year-old Nowak as he lay dying. His killer Vickrum Digwa had claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack. The footage of Nowak's final moments has prompted a wave of political reaction in the UK, as well as X owner Musk criticising the police treatment of the teenager.

Several MPs, including Liberal Democrat Layla Moran and Vikki Slade, and Labour's Darren Paffey, left the platform after reports the Grok AI tool was being used to create sexualised images, including of children. X has previously said: "Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.