A town council in Cornwall has voted to stop using X (formerly Twitter) for official communication. Marazion Town Council agreed the platform no longer matches the values it wants to represent, especially when promoting council work or interacting with local residents.
Marazion Council Votes to Ban X Use
During a full council meeting, Marazion Town Council passed a motion to end the use of X for council business. Councillors supported the decision by majority vote.
The council believes using the platform for public updates and community engagement goes against its values of tolerance, respect, and inclusiveness. The BBC contacted X for comment.
Councillor Says X No Longer Feels Safe or Responsible
Councillor Richard Stokoe proposed the motion. He said Marazion may be the first out of 213 councils in Cornwall to take a formal step to stop corporate use of the platform.
He explained that X does not feel like a place where responsible organisations should promote themselves or connect their image to the platform.
Grok AI Controversy Adds to Concerns
Stokoe also raised concerns about X’s AI tool Grok. He pointed to reports that the platform allowed harmful misuse, including generating content that undresses real people without consent.
X announced on 14 January that it would block Grok from producing this type of content in areas where it is illegal.
Stokoe said free speech matters, but organisations should not support platforms that profit while allowing harmful behaviour. He also criticised what he described as ongoing problems on X, including racism, sexism, and misinformation.
Other UK Councils Also Leave the Platform
Marazion is not alone. Several other councils across the UK have also stopped using X, calling it unsafe or unsuitable.
These include:
- Erewash Borough Council (Derbyshire)
- Devon County Council
- Warwick District Council
- Belfast City Council
- Southampton City Council
