We can no longer support the hate and disinformation that has flooded X since Elon Musk took over.
In coordination with PEN Melbourne and PEN Perth, PEN Sydney has decided to leave X (formerly known as Twitter) because use of the platform is irreconcilable with the PEN Charter.
The Charter states that:
“…members pledge themselves to oppose such evils of a free press as mendacious publication, deliberate falsehood, and distortion of facts for political and personal ends.”
Since its acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022, X has descended into a place of hate and disinformation. Conspiratorial and inciteful content regularly goes unchecked, to the detriment of society, and often contributes to violence.
With effectively no moderation, freedom of expression on the platform has been reduced to absurdity. And now with Musk’s recent appearance at a Donald Trump rally in Butler Pennsylvania, it is clear the pursuit of truth is neither in his, nor X’s, interest.
PEN Sydney no longer believes X can facilitate good faith discussion. Consequently, we will be deactivating our X account and transitioning to Threads.
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