The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th U.S. president, with Elon Musk in his corner, sparked a wave of departures from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in France. Many left-wing media outlets and public figures announced their exit, citing concerns over the platform’s alleged promotion of conspiracy theories, anti-globalist ties, and fake news.
Key publications like Ouest-France and Le Monde joined the exodus, while some, like Le Figaro, chose to stay. The movement extended beyond journalists to cities, ministries, and institutions like Paris City Hall and the Pasteur Institute. Critics of X pointed to a “lack of moderation” and algorithms that they claim amplify hateful content.
To aid users leaving X for platforms like BlueSky and Mastodon, a group of French developers created the app “HelloQuitteX.” With a playful nod to the Hello Kitty brand, the app facilitates seamless transitions to other networks while retaining user contacts. Though most of the developers involved are volunteers, the project has drawn fire for being coordinated by the state-funded Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), raising concerns over the use of public funds for a political initiative.
Critics argue that CNRS’s involvement crosses a line. Florence Bergeaud-Blackler, an academic and critic of political Islam, called it “censorship” that harms CNRS’s credibility. Didier Maïsto, a prominent commentator, condemned it as a “misappropriation of public funds.”
David Chavalarias, the app’s lead developer, defended the initiative as a matter of academic freedom, asserting that CNRS funding was limited and did not involve agency management. Nonetheless, critics point out that even indirect support ties the CNRS to a politically charged project.
The controversy underscores tensions around state involvement in politically sensitive projects. Critics argue that if the initiative had supported Musk instead of opposing him, academic freedom would likely not have been invoked to justify public funding.
