Kerry County Council is to audit its X social media account.
The platform, formerly known as Twitter, has been embroiled in controversy in recent years; most recently when its AI function, Grok, allowed users to create nude images of children.
At the full meeting of Kerry County Council, Sinn Féin councillor for the Corca Dhuibhne-Castleisland Municipal District, Robert Brosnan, proposed that the council discontinue its use of X for official public communications.
He told the chamber that X and its owner, Elon Musk, have shown nothing but contempt for Ireland’s houses of the Oireachtas.
Earlier this month, X, which has its European headquarters in Dublin, refused to appear before the Oireachtas media committee.
Councillor Brosnan said this was “not okay”, adding that citizens and parents across Ireland are very concerned about the harmful effects its content is having on society, especially young people.
The council’s director of corporate services, Martin O’Donoghue, warned against allowing the editorial stance of online platforms, or other media, to influence the council’s public communications.
He said more than 17,000 people follow Kerry County Council on X, “whether we like it or not”, making it a critical channel for communicating with the wider public, especially during severe weather.
Mr O’Donoghue argued that until an effective alternative is found, X remains a vital means of communication.
Speaking in support of her party colleague’s motion, Councillor Deirdre Ferris questioned the make-up of the council’s more than 17,000 X followers; specifically how many are based in Kerry or even Ireland, and how many are active users.
Many councillors agreed with Councillor Brosnan’s sentiment, describing X as “an echo chamber of absolute, disgusting, single-minded behaviour”, “an absolute cesspit” and “atrocious”.
However, several stopped short of backing the motion, saying that leaving X would not solve the underlying problem.
Councillor Brosnan agreed not to press the motion to a vote, at least until the executive has completed an audit of the council’s X followers.
