“With its thousands of anonymous accounts and its troll farms, life on Twitter is the exact opposite of democratic life,” Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a long post titled, “Why I am leaving Twitter.”
“I refuse to endorse this evil scheme,” she wrote.
The 64-year-old, who unsuccessfully stood for the presidency in 2022, joined Twitter as it was then known in 2009 and has been a frequent user of the platform, accused X of promoting “misinformation”, “antisemitism and racism.”
An Associated Press request for comment emailed to X got an automated reply, “Busy now, please check back later.”
Her office said that Paris City Hall is keeping its own separate account on X.
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Musk announces plans to turn Twitter into ‘X’ super-app similar to China’s WeChat
Musk announces plans to turn Twitter into ‘X’ super-app similar to China’s WeChat
Hidalgo’s withdrawal from X follows a fractious period for the mayor. She has faced criticism from political opponents over the expense and need for a trip she made in October to the French South Pacific territories of New Caledonia and Tahiti.
The Olympic surfing competition next July is being held on Tahiti’s world-famous Teahupo’o wave.
She also locked horns last week with government ministers over the French capital’s readiness for the 2024 Summer Games. Hidalgo said some transport options won’t be ready for the July 26-August 11 Olympics.
Firing back, Transport Minister Clement Beaune said the mayor’s comments were a “shameful” attempt to divert attention from her Pacific voyage.
Balenciaga quits Twitter: Elon Musk loses another big brand on the platform
Balenciaga quits Twitter: Elon Musk loses another big brand on the platform
Hidalgo’s office said her decision to leave X was not in response to the recent criticism but was thought-out over time. Musk took control of Twitter in October 2022 and has dismantled some of its core features.
“We are dealing here with an utterly clear political project to push aside democracy and its values in favour of powerful private interests,” Hidalgo wrote. “This medium has become a gigantic global sewer, and we should continue to wade into it?”
Since Musk took over Twitter in 2022, a number of high-profile figures said they were leaving the popular social platform, but there has been no mass exodus.