Why EDRi is leaving X and where to find us

How did we get here?

2025 marks 16 years since EDRi joined Twitter. At that time, both Twitter and EDRi were different. Our network was a small, yet vibrant, collective that needed a platform to share its message with the world. Twitter was three years old, run by its co-founder Jack Dorsey, and its most significant milestone for the year was rolling out the retweet function.

Since Musk’s acquisition of the platform in October 2022, we have been working towards an X-it strategy. Recent developments, and Musk becoming part of the second Trump administration, have greatly contributed to a unique and extremely toxic platform power-grab.

Because of this, EDRi is joining many others in leaving X by 1 February, 2025.

On 20 January, we will host an important X Spaces conversation on the platform, guiding people towards Mastodon.

Why did we decide to leave X?

Since 2022’s acquisition by Musk, the platform’s content moderation policies and practices shifted, enabling disinformation, far right conspiracies and hatred. This has had an impact worldwide, including in areas outside the EU such as Syria and Palestine. The platform’s policies have also been updated to allow for the collection of users’ biometric data and access to encrypted messages.
Secondly, Musk joined the US administration. This shows that increasingly blurred lines between tech corporations and the State can turn into a dangerous attack on the democratic project. It also leads us to re-evaluate who we define as “lawmakers”. Musk joining the Trump administration is not just an attack on the Rule of law, but also on the State’s power and responsibility to pass and implement much-needed legislation to curb Big Tech’s power grabs.
Thirdly, Musk’s interference in national politics in countries across the globe is abusive and destabilising. Musk has interfered in political debates and national elections in the UK, Australia, Canada, Romania, Italy, Germany, Greenland, Brazil, Venezuela, and the US, to name a few. He has also opened a race to the bottom when it comes to tech corporations exerting pressure on governments, such as by denigrating leaders he dislikes and promoting far-right views and politicians.

If recent policy changes at Meta and the apparent rhetorical alignment of Meta’s CEO with Trump’s and Musk’s nonsense talking points are any indicators, Mark Zuckerberg is also giving Musk competition in this race to the bottom. Musk and Zuckerberg are openly using their platforms’ features, policies as well as enormous social capital to prevent further regulation on toxic Big Tech business models and power grabs.

We stayed at X as long as we did because it offered a medium through which civil society organisations and grassroots activists can express themselves, mobilise and raise awareness on topics under-reported in traditional media. But the cons have outweighed the pros in recent times.

EDRi constantly aspires to support and strengthen social networks and platforms that contribute to our vision for a just, open and decentralised internet, where everyone can express themselves with safety and dignity. Leaving X is a step in this direction.

Where can you find us now?

In the last few years, millions – including EDRi – have left to join Mastodon, a decentralised network based on an open-source protocol. Moving forward, EDRi will increase its presence on Mastodon and hope that similar platforms can soon receive much-needed public funding to flourish.

You can leave X too! HelloQuitX campaign shows you how to do it. If you are looking for a good opportunity or just the right nudge, 20 January is the day that X’s owner, Elon Musk, takes office in the US government on the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration as President.

On the same day, 20 January, we will host a X Space to join many in calling for a shift towards Mastodon. Join us during the X Space conversation to find out how to make the best of Mastodon – both as an individual and as an organisation.

Besides following us on Mastodon, you can also stay in touch with EDRi by following our LinkedIn page or by subscribing to our newsletters, explained below:

• We publish the EDRi-gram every 2 weeks, with expert analysis on the latest digital rights developments. This is a the best way to engage with the timely content EDRi members and EDRi staff produce on a recurrent basis.
• Our supporters mailing list contains information about our mobilisation campaigns, and provides opportunities for supporters to be involved in EU decision-making. Whether it be sending emails to Members of the European Parliament, signing a petition or being part of a public stunt in your city – we use this list to organise collective actions. Expect a mail approximately every two months.
• The press release list sends out press releases on topics of major importance, usually every 4-5 months.