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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Table of Contents

What, why and who #

What is Leave X? #

‘Leave X - Protect Democracy’ is a citizen-led initiative that raises awareness about the role of disinformation platforms in undermining democratic societies.

The project hosts #LeaveX, an open letter to European politicians and leaders calling on them to abandon X/Twitter. A supporting petition gathered 3,230 signatures across Europe before closing.

In addition, the website collects and publishes data on the continued use of X by political representatives across different European countries.

Why focus on X? #

We believe that democratic politics depends on open, accountable, and civilized public dialogue. X no longer provides an environment that supports these values.

Politicians’ continued presence on X has concrete consequences:

  • Statements made on X are routinely amplified by traditional media.
  • Citizens and journalists are effectively forced onto the platform in order to follow their representatives.
  • Visibility on X is driven by conflict-based engagement. Even pro-democratic activity contributes to platform growth and thereby amplifies an anti-democratic dynamic (details here).
  • The platform has become associated with disinformation, harassment, and hate speech.
  • Platform governance decisions increasingly conflict with democratic norms and public accountability.

When elected officials choose to remain on such platforms, they indirectly legitimize and normalize them.

Who is behind this initiative? #

I am Everton Zanella Alvarenga, a software engineer working at the intersection of open-source, public-interest technology, and civic tech.

Over the past two decades, I have led and contributed to international initiatives focused on transparency, digital rights, and democratic participation. This project is developed in my spare time.

From the beginning, Leave X – Protect Democracy has been an open-source and collaborative effort. Contributors help by reviewing translations of the open letter, sharing data about political representatives in their countries, and improving the website itself.

General Questions #

What does it mean to be “active” on X? #

A politician is considered ‘active on X’ if they have an account and there is no public statement indicating that they have left the platform.

This applies even if the account has not posted recently.

If a politician wishes to be listed as inactive or ‘eXited,’ we require a verifiable public statement (for example, a post on your social media or an official announcement).

If you publicly state that you left or deleted your X account, you can send such confirmation by email leavexeu@pm.me or via Mastodon. A statement per email for us can be published as a reference for transparency.

We advise disabling all comments if a politician leaves X and decides to keep their account.

Where does your data come from? #

Our data is collected primarily through:

We aim for accuracy, but errors or outdated information can occur. If you notice missing or incorrect data, please contact us by email or via Mastodon.

Corrections are welcome and encouraged.

Is this a partisan or party-political initiative? #

No. Leave X - Protect Democracy is non-partisan.

The initiative does not endorse political parties or candidates. It focuses exclusively on the structural risks posed by disinformation platforms and the responsibility of public office holders to communicate in ways that uphold democratic values.

Are you telling politicians to stop using social media altogether? #

No. The initiative does not argue against social media as such.

It calls for politicians to leave a specific platform whose current governance, incentive structures, and moderation practices actively harm democratic discourse. And we propose using alternative channels that better support transparency and accountability.

Shouldn’t I stay on social networks to “provide opposition”? #

This argument is often presented as a reason to remain on harmful platforms. We disagree.

Our core reasoning is explained in detail in Why the argument that you have to stay on social networks to provide opposition is complete nonsense.

In short, remaining on such platforms often amplifies them, legitimizes their role in public discourse, and forces democratic debate to take place on infrastructures that are neither neutral nor accountable.

Why not include other harmful social media platforms? #

We agree that other major social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram (both owned by Meta), as well as TikTok, pose serious threats to democratic discourse.

This campaign focuses on X because of its unique role in political communication. As explained in why focus on X, statements published on the platform are often amplified by traditional media, shaping public debate far beyond its own user base.

More broadly, we address why staying on social media platforms “to provide opposition” is a flawed argument (see Shouldn’t I stay on social networks to provide opposition?).

For similar initiatives targeting other platforms, see for example the Delete Facebook, Delete Instagram, and Delete TikTok websites.

How can I contribute? #

You can contribute in several ways:

  • Suggest corrections or additional data
  • Contact politicians you feel are relevant to this initiative
  • Help review or improve translations
  • Share the project with civil-society groups, individuals or journalists
  • Contribute directly to the website via GitHub

Suggestions and ideas are always welcome at leavexeu@pm.me or a message on Mastodon.