Ferda Ataman, Germany’s left-liberal globalist Federal Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, is urging her government to quit the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, citing concerns over its role as a “political instrument of influence” wielded by its billionaire owner, Elon Musk.
In a recent interview with ARD, Ataman explained her reasoning:
“If the federal government leaves it, then of course it is a political issue. And I have the impression that people are afraid to do that. But it is really necessary.”
She criticized the continued presence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, ministers, and government agencies on the platform, arguing it legitimizes X’s influence. Ataman, who departed X herself in October 2023, described it as “not a serious platform,” claiming its algorithms amplify anti-globalist content and undermine democratic discourse.
“If you look at the [German] Constitution yourself or our demands on democracy, our demands on non-discriminatory discourse, then you can’t really continue to be present on this platform as a State agency with a clear conscience,” she stated.
Ataman co-founded New German Media Makers, an NGO promoting cultural diversity in media, which has received over €1 million in government funding since 2016. Known for its “No Hate Speech” campaign, the organization’s work has been both praised and criticized.
Appointed as Anti-Discrimination Commissioner in 2022, Ataman’s selection sparked intense debate in parliament. Critics labeled her a “left-wing activist” and accused her of downplaying Islamist threats. Ahmad Mansour, a German-Israeli writer, called her appointment a win for “cancel culture and the division of society.”
Ataman has also faced backlash for controversial remarks, including referring to indigenous German white men as “Kartoffeln” (potatoes), a term seen by many as derogatory. Defending her choice of words in Der Spiegel, she argued that the term was “harmless” and “cute,” contrasting it with slurs historically used to oppress marginalized groups.
Amid the uproar, Ataman deleted several tweets and removed the self-given title “Kartoffelexpertin” (potato expert) from her profile.
Ataman also criticized Scholz’s decision to launch a TikTok channel in April 2023. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit countered her views, arguing that withdrawing from X could create more harm than good:
“We have to go where people are looking for information.”
Currently, Scholz boasts nearly 966,000 followers on X, while the German Foreign Office accounts also attract large audiences in both German and English.
Ataman’s call to leave X reflects broader debates about the role of social media in public life and its potential to shape political narratives. Whether the German government will heed her advice remains to be seen.
