Germany’s Defence Ministry Exits Elon Musk’s Social Network X
The Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) is closing its channel on the X (formerly Twitter) platform owned by American billionaire Elon Musk as of today and will no longer post there. This decision also applies to subordinate channels, such as the Inspector General's channel and the Bundeswehr's central channel.
‘The Ministry of Defence will suspend the work of the Ministry of Defence channel on the X platform from 15 January 2025 and will no longer post proactive publications on the channel in the foreseeable future,’ the ministry said in a statement on its website.
The Ministry justified its move by changing the communication on the platform: ‘the actual exchange of arguments will become increasingly difficult.’
After the social network was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk in late 2022, he not only changed the name of the platform - from Twitter to X - but also almost all the rules and guidelines. The platform is supposed to interpret freedom of expression in a ‘libertarian sense’ and intervene to regulate it only in rare individual cases.
As a result, hatred and disinformation have increased significantly. After the acquisition, Musk influenced the media by unblocking accounts that had previously been blocked by Twitter, for example, for anti-Semitism (Kanye West) or incitement to violence (Donald Trump).
As early as 2022, companies, institutions and individuals closed their Twitter accounts because they did not want to support ‘unbridled’ freedom of speech. Now - more than two years later - the German Ministry of Defence is also following suit.
Today, the ministry also pointed to other social media channels that should be used more in the future. In order to continue to provide information about current topics, dates and decisions, the BMVg will use alternative channels in the future, among other things:
The ministry also emphasised that social media will only cover a part of the communication. Various platforms and formats are used to provide the public with transparent and comprehensive information. However, in exceptional cases, such as disinformation campaigns, the BMVg reserves the right to become active on X again.
New WhatsApp channel for current updates.
Existing BMVg Instagram channel.
Press releases and press statements by the Minister.
On-demand interviews on YouTube.
Official websites BMVg.de and Bundeswehr.de.