Leo Varadkar: X, formerly Twitter, 'has always been a bit of a sewer'

Mr Varadkar, who was asked about Mr Musk’s stewardship of X at his end-of-year media briefing, said the Government had a role to play in regulating social media platforms.

The social media site X "has always been a bit of a sewer" and does not uphold its own guidelines, the Taoiseach has said.

X, formerly Twitter, and the Government have been at odds since last month's riots in Dublin, during which the company's owner Elon Musk posted that Leo Varadkar "hates the Irish people".

Justice Minister Helen McEntee then told the Dáil that X had declined to delete content related to the riots, a claim that X strenuously denied.

X's Global Governments Affairs team said that the claims were "inaccurate" and that they had already taken action on more than 1,230 pieces of content under their rules.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee then told the Dáil that X had declined to delete content related to the riots, a claim that X strenuously denied.

In a post on December 5, it explained: "We met with the Coimisiún na Meán on November 24 to discuss our response. 

"The gardaí did not make any formal requests to us until late Monday 27th November. We responded promptly.

"The only appeal we have received from the gardaí relating to the enforcement of our rules is for a single post.

"We hope the Minister will clarify her remarks."

Speaking at a media briefing last week, Mr Varadkar said that the platform had declined in quality since Mr Musk took it over.

Twitter, as it used to be called, has always been a bit of a sewer as far as social media goes.

“Despite what other people may say I am actually somebody who believes in free speech but there have to be limitations and standards.

“I don’t believe that Twitter, or X, implements its own community standards. Other social media platforms do, and I think if you’re not even able to live up to your own standards it doesn’t reflect very well on any organisation.

"The government does have a role to play."

Mr Varadkar said that there would no longer be self-regulation of social media.

“We said very clearly a year or two ago that the era of self-regulation was over. We have laws and they’re European laws.

"We have an online safety commissioner now and we have Coimisiún na Meán, and I think things are going to change.”

Justice Minister Helen McEntee then told the Dáil that X had declined to delete content related to the riots, a claim that X strenuously denied. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

At his pre-Christmas roundtable with political reporters, Mr Martin was also asked about the claims X had watered down its content moderation policies.

The Tánaiste referred to the recent riots in Dublin and claims that X did not do enough to take down content that was posted during the disorder.

“I would have real concerns about what is happening at X,” he said.

“The degree to which, under the cover of free speech, it essentially is allowing in my view unacceptable material in terms of hate, bile and attacks, and so on. I have noticed it, yes.

“If you recall in the aftermath of the rioting in Dublin it was communicated to me by minister (Catherine) Martin and others that X were not as responsive to the authorities as the other platforms were.

“I will talk to my government colleagues in respect of this and it is a serious issue.

“I would like to get an assessment of the platform’s agenda and its potential impact on democracy and society, then for us to have an engagement with X, whether that would be fruitful or not given the position adopted by its owner, I would have concerns.”

The X platform has been approached for comment.

- Additional reporting by PA