We have freedom of expression in the UK; it's written into our law in the 1998 Human Rights Act.

But unlike America's freedom of speech our rights come with responsibilities. We have a requirement not to incite criminality or spread hatred online and we've found that our society works better that way.

However, American social media platforms like Twitter (X) have made it easy for people to spread divisive hateful content. Going back some years a Stroud District councillor resigned after inadvertently sharing such material.

More recently X has been accused of fanning the flames of the recent disorder seen across the UK. Just last week Downing Street condemned Elon Musk for claiming ‘civil war is inevitable’ in UK amid far-right riots and attacks. MPs have said the Commons standards watchdog should hold Nigel Farage to account for content he shared following recent riots.

Recently a 'keyboard warrior' was jailed for three years for using X to stir up racial hatred. Barely mentioned in that article was that this 'keyboard warrior' was paid £1,400 a month for his content. Elon Musk introduced X's ad revenue-sharing program as part of his campaign to reward and encourage active users some years ago.

Famous people and celebrities are leaving the platform in droves citing a cesspool of hate and bigotry.

Isn't the bigger question here; Why does the British public sector persist in supporting proprietary American platforms like X?

Why do our institutions, such as the police and councils, encourage UK citizens to register for news updates and therefore participate in enriching these billionaire owners who live beyond our shores and who uphold different laws and different values?

The anti-racist group I work with had to close down its X account long ago, in order to protect the people having to manage it. I've talked with my local Constabulary about their use of X too.

Clearly, unlike Brazil, outlawing X is not on the cards. MP's and lawmakers seem to think the Online Safety Act will come to our rescue. I don't.

Maybe we should start encouraging all our institutions to abandon these American social media platforms altogether?

We have to start somewhere.