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A Platform to Address Lawmakers
The National Assembly’s petition platform allows every French citizen to propose or sign a petition. Each petition is assigned to one of the eight permanent committees based on its topic. Once a petition exceeds 100,000 signatures, it becomes more visible and may be reviewed by the deputies. If it gathers 500,000 signatures across at least 30 departments, a public debate can even be organized in the Assembly.
A Call to Abandon X, the Former Twitter
On December 27, 2024, Gregory Harvey submitted a petition titled: “Stop Using X (formerly Twitter) for Official Government Communications.” He called for a break from a platform he believes has become incompatible with French democratic values. The main argument: X’s owner, Elon Musk, makes openly problematic statements and adopts radical political stances. He is accused of spreading conspiracy theories, fueling online hatred, and undermining democratic institutions.
Although this petition is somewhat dated, it is resurfacing on social media with significant momentum.
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Increasingly Shared Criticisms
This is not the first time X has been targeted. Since Musk’s takeover, moderation has noticeably declined. Hate speech is on the rise, banned accounts are being reinstated, and misinformation circulates freely. Several institutions, both in France and abroad, are reconsidering the appropriateness of their presence on such a platform. The EU itself has recently warned X about complying with the Digital Services Act.
Towards Digital Autonomy for the State?
The petition suggests shifting to more ethical tools or even developing a public sovereign platform. This idea resonates with discussions on digital sovereignty in France. Leaving X would send a strong message, but it raises questions about the reach of institutional communication if the public does not follow. Despite the controversies, X remains central to journalists, elected officials, and public debate. But isn’t this problematic?
If one considers that the visibility of state-issued communiques through this platform— as well as those from journalists and major corporations—depends on an algorithm controlled by a highly politicized American billionaire, isn’t that completely absurd?
As of now, the petition has only garnered 4,600 signatures. It may never reach its goal of 100,000 signatures, but it raises an interesting question about the state’s digital sovereignty.
What’s your take on this issue?