BKA withdraws from Musk's Network X - what does that mean for us?

BKA withdraws from Musk's Network X - what does that mean for us?

Meckenheim, Deutschland - The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has now set its presence on the social network X. The BKA's X account is no longer active, which is surprising for many observers. In emergencies, it is pointed out that the emergency number 110 should be selected. Current information can continue to be accessed on the official social media channels of the BKA and on the website bka.de . A reason for this step has not yet been communicated.

The BKA joined the predecessor portal Twitter in 2016 and recently had almost 127,000 followers on X. It is also noteworthy that the Ministry of Defense has announced that it will no longer spread any information on X for the time being. The decision was justified that the factual exchange of arguments on the platform would be increasingly difficult.

The role of disinformation

The events related to the BKA and the Ministry of Defense reflect a major problem in social networks: the spread of disinformation. The Federal Office of Information Technology (BSI) provides information that disinformation is specifically spreading incorrect information with intention to deceive. This method is often used to undermine trust in democratic institutions.

examples of disinformation can be found in many areas, for example in the case of incorrect information about vaccines during corona pandemic or in connection with the Russian attack war against Ukraine. Disinformation is often spread quickly through social media, especially fake accounts and social bots, which endangers a healthy information environment.

precautionary measures when dealing with social media

In order to counteract the spread of disinformation, the BSI recommends that information to be critically questioned and checked. The use of fact checks should be regarded as a standard for recognizing questionable content. It is particularly important to check the activity patterns and the age of accounts to determine information on social bots.

disinformation can not only be spread through fake content, but also by chopped accounts or infected devices. The BSI emphasizes that awareness of IT security and the protection of online accounts are of great importance in order to protect themselves against such threats.

Overall, the BKA's decision to set its activities on X shows the increasing challenges in dealing with digital platforms and the need to critically assess information channels. Transparent communication and the promotion of a factual exchange are crucial in order to continue to preserve the public's trust.