Attorney General is first UK government department to stop using X

The Attorney General for England and Wales, Richard Hermer, has instructed his office to stop posting on X. The decision marks the first UK government department to stop using the platform, driven by growing concerns about its role in inciting violence and racism that divides communities.

The last post by the office was on Friday, and officials are now barred from further use, with a limited exception for the specific purpose of combating online disinformation.

The move signals a shift in ministerial concern about the impact of social media, despite Downing Street repeatedly defending the use of X as an essential tool for public outreach. This defence has continued even though the platform owner, Elon Musk, faced criticism for promoting far-right viewpoints and calling for the overthrow of the UK government. Hermer is understood to have reached the decision following the recent public disorder in Southampton and Belfast.

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