The UK Attorney General’s office has stopped using X, the social media platform once known as Twitter. This is the first government department to pull back amid rising disinformation and hate speech concerns.

Richard Hermer ordered his staff to cease posting on X after violent riots erupted in Southampton and Belfast. These events followed inflammatory misinformation spread on the platform, often fueled by far-right agitators.

The Southampton unrest began after a stabbing incident involving Henry Nowak, whose attacker falsely claimed racist motives. In Belfast, far-right groups mobilized protests targeting minority communities after a separate stabbing. Both episodes saw X used to fan division and violence.

Hermer cited the platform’s role in amplifying racist and violent rhetoric as the reason for quitting. He allowed exceptions only for combating misinformation. This breaks with the broader government stance, where most departments still use X to communicate.

Elon Musk’s ownership of X has been controversial. Musk has openly supported far-right figures and incited political upheaval in the UK. His amplification of extremist voices and inflammatory posts worsened tensions during the riots.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer threatened to block X over its AI tool Grok producing inappropriate images. The government is pushing regulatory reforms under the Online Safety Act to force social media firms to act faster during crises, but these rules won’t take effect until mid-July.

Meanwhile, Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, is still reviewing X’s compliance, delaying any official sanctions. The Attorney General’s office decision sends a clear warning about the dangers of platforms that prioritize reach over responsibility.

Hermer also condemned what he called “crypto-funded millionaires” using social media to sow division over issues like the European Convention on Human Rights. His move reflects growing frustration within government about the toxic digital environment and its real-world consequences.

As social media platforms continue to struggle with misinformation and extremist content, the Attorney General’s office shows a rare willingness to cut ties rather than tolerate the fallout. Whether other government departments follow remains to be seen.