Why Dronedesk is Leaving X (Twitter)

At Dronedesk, I've always strived to foster an environment that aligns with our company's core values of responsibility, integrity, and trustworthiness.

In line with this commitment I, as the founder and a person of strong principles, have made the difficult decision to delete our account on X (formerly Twitter). This decision has not been taken lightly. But recent events have compelled me to take a stand against, what I perceive to be, the troubling direction both this platform, and its owner, are heading.

My concerns about X

There's no doubt that Elon Musk is one of the greatest innovators the world has ever seen. What else can you say about the man who founded companies like PayPal, Tesla, Starlink, and SpaceX?

However, I'm deeply troubled by Elon Musk's looming potential to influence the politics of the US and other countries.

And I'm not the only ones who are concerned; even Donald Trump has had to move to quash speculation about Musk's outsized influence, insisting at a recent conservative gathering that the tech billionaire would not usurp his authority as incoming president. "No, he's not going to be president, that I can tell you," Trump told cheering supporters in Phoenix. "And I'm safe. You know why he can't be? He wasn't born in this country." If an incompatible place of birth is Donald's only line of defence, then he may be in trouble!

UK and EU politics

Musk's recent actions and statements in relation to UK and EU politics have also raised alarm bells for me.

His increasingly outrageous commentary on UK and European political and social affairs, particularly through inflammatory and often misleading posts, has the potential to destabilize public discourse. And, again, I'm not alone in our concern; the UK Homeland Security team are now monitoring his posts.

It is genuinely difficult to find the words to describe the ominous subtext, the ignorance, the potential violence wrapped up in each one of Musk's interventions. For example, he has:

• Suggested "Britain needs Reform now" and Prime Minister "Starmer must go"
• Asked if "America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government"
• Repeated unverified and unsubstantiated claims about immigration
• Amplified conspiracy theories that have no basis in fact
• Called the UK Government's Safeguarding minister "an evil witch and a rape genocide apologist"
• Suggested that "only the [far-right] AfD can save Germany"

Also troubling is Musk's public endorsement of a far-right UK activist with a documented history of racism and multiple criminal convictions, including:

• Convictions for inciting racial hatred.
• Serving jail terms for contempt of court and fraud.
• Repeatedly organizing hate-driven protests that have targeted minorities.

The X risk

By allowing this rhetoric to thrive and, worse, by actively participating in and amplifying it, Musk has weaponized X as a platform for unchecked vitriol and extremism.

His ownership grants him the ability to broadcast these views without oversight, creating a dangerously one-sided echo chamber. The power he's bought with technology has been translated into pervasive political power. And yet, nobody has ever voted for him in any election of any kind.

And, as the world braces itself for another Trump Presidency, Biden's farewell address on 15 Jan was full of foreboding about the future:

• "Social media is giving up on fact checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit,"
• "Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power"
• he warned of "the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra-wealthy people,"
• "Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that really threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedom,"
• "powerful forces want to wield their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we've taken to tackle the climate crisis to serve their own interests for power and profit"

Why I'm taking this step

To be clear, I am 100% against censorship. And yes, I completely accept that it's somewhat hypocritical to then take a moral stance against, what amounts to, free speech on this platform.

However, I believe that social media should be a force for good—a tool to build communities, share knowledge, and foster healthy discourse. Unfortunately, X is heading in a direction that contradict these principles. I can no longer, in all good conscience, support or utilize a platform that:

1. Propagates harmful rhetoric without accountability.
2. Undermines factual integrity in favor of unchecked user contributions.
3. Prioritizes profits over the well-being of their users and communities.

By removing Dronedesk's presence from X, I hope to send a message that ethical considerations matter.

While this decision may reduce Dronedesk's reach in the short term, I believe our community will support us in finding alternative ways to connect and engage.

What's next for Dronedesk?

Dronedesk isn't disappearing—we're simply refocusing our efforts on platforms that better align with our values. We'll be investing more in:

• Our website and blog, where we can communicate directly and transparently.
• Newsletters and email updates, to keep our users informed and connected.
• Bluesky, a relatively new, potentially safer, more private alternative to other platforms.
• LinkedIn, where we find there is more harmonious and discerning discourse.

I encourage you to reach out to us directly or subscribe to our updates to stay in touch. Together, we can continue building a positive and supportive community for drone operators.

Thank you for understanding my decision. It's not easy to walk away from platforms that have played a significant role in Dronedesk's early growth and in shaping our online presence, but it's a necessary step to uphold the values I, and the company, hold dear.

– Dorian Founder & Director

P.S. I've also sold the (very) few shares I had in Tesla and I've cancelled our Starlink subscription in favour of an LTE router.