Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Micheál Martin have expressed concerns about the level of “hate, bile and attacks” on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

In the last few months, the social media platform has watered down its trust and safety rules.  

A recent Business Post article claimed that CEO Elon Musk had instructed staff not to suspend users who send sexual material to another person under new policies. 

The platform is reported to have been invited to a hearing with the Oireachtas Media Committee in the new year to discuss these changes and their consequences. 

Mr Martin confirmed he read the Business Post article and agreed there are major concerns surrounding the social media platform. 

“I would have real concerns about what's 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 attacks and so on, and I have noticed it.” 

'A bit of a sewer'

Mr Varadkar has also criticised X, saying it does not implement its own community standards. 

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

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

“If you’re not even able to live up to your own standards it doesn’t reflect very well on any organisation.” 

The comments from the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste follow a thread of politicians expressing concern over Mr Musk. 

Last month, Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan said the X owner’s “very powerful position is, in my mind, being used and abused”. 

Following riots in Dublin last month, Justice Minister Helen McEntee noted X did not engage with Gardaí when asked to take down “vile” posts connected to the far-right. 

In response, X said it had a meeting with Coimisiún na Meán, the recently introduced commission that will be responsible for regulating social media platforms under the EU Digital Services Act. 

Chairperson Jeremy Godfrey previously told Newstalk the Commission followed the violence in Dublin closely and has had “good engagement with all social media platforms”.  

“But engagement isn’t the same as compliance,” he said. 

'Political censorship' on X

Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett also previously told Newstalk Mr Musk could face criminal charges in Ireland if he doesn’t comply with a new Online Safety Code being prepared in Ireland. 

Mr Musk in turn has been critical of Ireland’s online regulation policies, going as far as to imply he is concerned about “political censorship” in the country. 

He has criticised hate speech legislation in Ireland and accused the “Irish PM” of “hating Irish people”.