Social Media Platform’s Account Suspension Sparks Controversy
RT DE, a news outlet, has received a formal complaint after its official account on the platform X was suspended on Monday. The complaint, sent to X, reads:
“RT DE has filed a complaint against the suspension of our official account, RTDE_OFFIZIELL. Neither the content published on this account violates X’s rules, nor can there be any doubt about the authenticity of the account, which is linked to the X symbol. Furthermore, it is the only channel operated by us.
Other active channels claiming the name RT DE are not ours – not authentic.
We would like to politely point out that the account @RTDE_OFFIZIELL has already passed X’s authentication test and received a blue tick. This raises the question of how it can simultaneously violate X’s ‘rules of authenticity’.”
The account was suspended by X on Friday, citing a violation of the “rules of authenticity.” X stated, “You are not allowed to use our services for non-authentic activity that undermines the integrity of X.”
In a surprising move, RT DE is now asking its readers to get involved and bring the issue to the attention of Elon Musk, the owner of X, on the platform. The outlet is encouraging readers to use hashtags such as #RTDEentsperren, #FreeRTDE, #MuskfreeRTDE, or #RTDEzensurade to express their opinions on the suspension.
The new X channel of RT DE was established on January 9 and gained over 17,000 followers before its suspension. The original X account of RT DE was blocked in the EU in March 2022 due to EU sanctions.
In an unusual move, RT DE is now addressing its readers directly, saying, “Elon Musk, the owner of X, always emphasizes the importance of freedom of opinion and despises censorship. And then his platform suspends us.