The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has done it: it has closed its Twitter account, now known as X. But what is really behind this move? Is it a cave-in to Elon Musk and his platform, or a strong signal for more independence and attitude?

The BGH's departure - a surprising step?

The BGH, one of the highest courts in Germany, was still active on platform X until recently and had over 25,000 followers. Of course, these numbers are rather small compared to the huge accounts of influencers or big brands, but they are not insignificant for an institution like the BGH. The account served as a communication channel to disseminate important judgments and information on case law. But now it's over. The BGH has deactivated its account without further explanation and referred users to other platforms such as Mastodon and a newsletter. This farewell post attracted an astonishing amount of attention - far beyond the usual reactions to the court's publications.

Speculation about Musk and political interference

Why this step? There is a lot of speculation surrounding the BGH's withdrawal. Rumors suggest that there may be a connection with recent political events and the interference of Elon Musk, the owner of X, in the German election campaign. Even if the BGH has not officially given any reasons, the temporal connection is striking. Platform X has not exactly stood out in recent months for its trustworthy handling of information. And this at a time when fake news and disinformation are playing an increasingly important role.

The government's stance - a polarized picture

Interestingly, not everyone is following this trend. While the Ministry of Defense and the German Armed Forces have suspended their channels on X, some politicians such as Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Chancellor Olaf Scholz remain active on the platform. You could be forgiven for thinking that two worlds are colliding here: one that is retreating in the face of political unrest and the question of the responsibility of platform operators, and the other that continues to rely on dialog via the platform despite all the concerns.

The Legal Tech Directory is also sticking with X - a decision that is definitely worth discussing. After all, one could ask whether it wouldn't make more sense not to leave the space to certain groups, but to take control and responsibility into your own hands.

Conclusion: Showing attitude or just another trend?

The BGH's withdrawal from X could be seen as a strong signal: A clear stance towards a platform that is increasingly characterized by political and commercial interests. On the other hand, it could also simply be a trend - the BGH is following the general trend that is emerging among many German institutions. Platform X has lost its roots, and many prefer to shift their communication to less controversial channels. But is this really the right solution?

The courage to change or a simple retreat?

It is understandable that the Federal Court of Justice and other institutions are withdrawing from a platform that is increasingly affected by disinformation and political manipulation. But this raises the question: should we simply take the child's name off the table or address the grievances and demand change? Perhaps retreating is just the easy way out. The real step would be to work harder to create a transparent and accountable platform. But who can expect that from the world's big players?