County Council quits X
26/01/2026
The main account will be closed on April 17
Oxfordshire County Council is the latest of our local authorities to say they will no longer be using the social media platform X. The move comes in the wake of the outcry over X’s AI chatbot Grok, which had been used to create sexualised images of children.
The council says they are “deeply concerned about the rise in online hate speech and abuse targeting women and girls” on X and have welcomed Ofcom’s decision to investigate the platform under the Online Safety Act.
In a statement issued this morning the county council said they regularly review their use of social media channels and in recent months have seen that X has become less effective as an engagement channel, adding it “has contributed to a less safe online environment for local communities”.
A pinned note on the authority’s X page notes the account will be closed on April 17.
The council also plans to close their Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service account and the popular OxonTravel account, which gives people timely traffic and travel news updates.
Today’s statement concluded: “Public bodies have a responsibility to stand up against hate and abuse, particularly when it targets women and girls. Social media can be a powerful tool for engagement, but only when it is properly regulated and moderated.
“Where platforms fail to provide a safe and respectful space for communities, we must make clear and principled choices about how we communicate.”
Cherwell District Council recently announced it would no longer post on X, although a spokesperson said they were still considering whether to close or deactivate the account, or whether to retain it for monitoring purposes and “very occasional emergency posts”.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
Reader's opinions
