SDLP leader says party will continue to use X after Cara Hunter quit the social media platform
SDLP leader Claire Hanna has told the media the party will continue to use social media platform X despite it not being “ethically what we would wish”.
Her comments come after her party MLA colleague Cara Hunter announced she was quitting the platform. Ms Hunter’s decision comes amid a row over an artificial intelligence tool linked to the platform which has been used to digitally undress people.
Speaking to the media this morning, Ms Hanna said: “Look, I think all of us know that X has become a cesspit particularly in the Musk era. If you want to go and be insulted and believe less in humanity, X is the place to go. Most of us use it in a very perfunctory way, if at all.
“Essentially for issuing comment. We have had a discussion as we do in general with our elected representatives about the different ways that different roles require some interface. Unfortunately, almost none of the social media companies are ethically what we would wish or in line, certainly with the SDLP’s values and our individual values so we will continue to use those platforms in the way that we’re required to for our jobs but in line with our values.”
X, formerly known as Twitter, was bought by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, in 2022. However, it is at the centre of a growing controversy after its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok digitally undressed people without their consent when tagged beneath images posted on the platform. X has now limited the use of this image function to those who pay a monthly fee.
Ms Hunter said she would no longer post on X given its refusal to take meaningful action. The SDLP MLA told the Belfast Telegraph she didn’t feel enough was being done to protect women and girls.