Image Credentials: Image Title: Dutch Civil Servants Urge Government to Leave X Over Hate Speech and Disinformation. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: May 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Senior Dutch civil servants have advised government ministries to stop using the social media platform X for public information purposes, warning that the platform increasingly promotes hate speech, racism, disinformation, and social polarization.
The recommendation was made in an internal government memo reviewed by Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, which reported that officials believe the platform is no longer compatible with Dutch and European legal standards regarding online safety and harmful content.
According to the document, the civil servants argue that X actively facilitates the spread of criminal and harmful material, including racist, antisemitic, and misogynistic content, largely due to what they describe as insufficient moderation policies.
Det nederländska regeringspartiet @D66 tycker det är dags att stänga ner X nu.
Det är alldeles för mycket kritik mot adeln ifrån kreti och pleti på plattformen tydligen.
Det stör dem i deras viktiga adelsarbete, dvs är ett hot mot Demokratin (🏳️🌈🇪🇺) pic.twitter.com/lY5NCsUmOS— Fredric Morenius (@FredricMorenius) May 26, 2026
The memo reportedly states that the Dutch government should “adhere to its own laws and regulations and not expose citizens to content that conflicts with this.”
The recommendation comes as governments and political institutions across Europe continue debating the role of major social media platforms in public communication, especially amid growing concerns over online extremism, manipulation, and political polarization.
Currently, Dutch ministries, politicians, and government officials use X extensively to communicate with citizens, distribute updates, and share official announcements.
However, the memo does not propose shutting down government accounts entirely. Instead, it suggests maintaining a limited presence for diplomatic communication and emergencies, while ending the platform’s broader use for public information campaigns.
Despite the criticism, civil servants acknowledged that abandoning X could also create political and communication risks.
The document warns that leaving the platform could be interpreted as withdrawing from public debate and may make it harder for government institutions to reach specific groups within society.
Political observers say those concerns partly explain why many politicians continue to remain active on the platform despite increasing criticism.
Claes de Vreese, a professor at the University of Amsterdam, recently argued that many politicians fear losing visibility and influence if they leave X.
“Death wishes, insults, and intimidation. That is what politicians get on X. And yet most stay,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “Everyone is afraid to leave because of fear of missing out.”
The debate in the Netherlands reflects a wider European trend.
Earlier this month, three political parties in Germany announced they would leave X, accusing the platform of descending into “chaos” and promoting “right-wing populist content, hate speech, and disinformation.”
The controversy surrounding X has intensified since changes to the platform’s moderation policies and ownership structure in recent years. Critics across Europe have increasingly questioned whether governments should continue using platforms accused of amplifying harmful content while simultaneously enforcing stricter digital regulations.
For now, Dutch politicians remain active on X, and the government has not formally adopted the recommendations contained in the memo.
According to De Volkskrant, a final government decision on the matter is expected after the summer.