The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), which represents over 295,000 journalists across 44 countries, has announced it will cease publishing content on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, starting 20 January 2025. The decision coincides with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States.

The EFJ stated that it can "no longer ethically participate in a social network that its owner has transformed into a machine of disinformation and propaganda." This move places the EFJ alongside other prominent European media outlets such as The Guardian, Dagens Nyheter, La Vanguardia, Ouest-France, and Sud-Ouest, which have also withdrawn from the platform due to concerns about Musk’s management and its impact on journalism.

A Stand for Ethical Journalism

EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez explained the organisation's decision, citing the cooperation between Musk and President-elect Trump, who has appointed Musk to head the new "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE).

"We cannot continue to participate in the social network feed of a man who proclaims the death of the media and therefore of journalists," Gutiérrez declared.

EFJ President Maja Sever added:

“The social media site X has become the preferred vector for conspiracy theories, racism, far-right ideas, and misogynistic rhetoric. X is a platform that no longer serves the public interest but rather the ideological and financial interests of its owner and his political allies.”

Editorial and Ethical Concerns

The EFJ criticised the editorial direction of X under Musk’s ownership, describing it as incompatible with the organisation’s commitment to:

• Humanist values
• Press freedom
• Media pluralism
• Opposition to all forms of hatred and discrimination

Sever urged the organisation's members and allies to consider leaving X:

"The decision to suspend our @EFJEUROPE account seemed clear to us, and we invite all our members and organisations defending freedom of expression to migrate to other platforms."

A Broader Call to Action

The EFJ’s decision highlights a growing unease among media organisations about platforms accused of enabling disinformation and hate speech. As the largest journalists' organisation in Europe, the EFJ’s move signals a significant challenge to social media platforms seen as undermining journalistic ethics and democracy.

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Written by: Jack Peat
https://europeanjournalists.org

Total Words: 366

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Social Media Post

European Federation of Journalists to Stop Posting Content on X
EFJ quits X over disinformation, hate speech, and ethical concerns, urging migration to alternatives.

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