Senior Dutch civil servants are urging the government to sharply reduce its presence on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, warning that the site has become a breeding
ground for disinformation, hate speech and threats against politicians.
The recommendation comes from the Voorlichtingsraad, the council representing communication directors across all Dutch ministries. According to reporting by Volkskrant, the body advised ministers that continued use of X may conflict with obligations under Dutch and European law because the platform allegedly “actively facilitates disinformation and harmful and criminal content.”
Under the proposal, many official government accounts would be shut down entirely, while others would remain active only for crisis communication or diplomatic purposes.
The debate follows growing alarm over online intimidation during the Netherlands’ 2025 election campaign. A recent investigation found that more than 22,000 threatening, inflammatory or intimidating posts targeting Dutch politicians appeared on X in the week leading up to the October 29 vote.
Researchers reviewing more than 80,000 messages identified 122 direct threats, 150 cases of incitement and 428 instances of hate speech — all potential criminal offences under Dutch law. The figures eclipsed the annual caseload handled by the Dutch police unit responsible for monitoring threats against politicians across all social media platforms.
The controversy places additional pressure on Prime Minister Rob Jetten’s cabinet, which inherited a previous government policy of remaining active on X and Meta platforms despite mounting criticism from civil society organisations. The government is expected to revisit the issue after the summer.
Officials reportedly described Elon Musk’s 2022 takeover of X as a pivotal moment in the platform’s decline. In the memo, they pointed to reduced moderation efforts and algorithm changes that they say have contributed to rising levels of racism, antisemitism, misogyny and disinformation online.
The Netherlands would not be alone in stepping back from the platform. Earlier this year, Germany’s foreign and defence ministries scaled down their use of X over similar concerns about moderation and misinformation.
European regulators have also intensified scrutiny of the company. In December, the European Commission imposed a €120 million fine on X under the Digital Services Act, citing concerns over misleading verification systems, insufficient advertising transparency and restrictions on researcher access to platform data. A broader EU investigation into X’s handling of illegal content remains ongoing.
Despite the recommendation, Dutch officials acknowledged that abandoning the platform carries political risks, including reduced access to certain audiences and accusations of withdrawing from public debate.
Still, the memo reportedly concludes that remaining on X poses the greater danger.
“There is no ideal choice,” the officials wrote. Photo by Twitter, Wikimedia commons.