Statement on Ending Active Use of X

As the Ward 3 Councilmember, I am committed to being accessible to constituents and communicating with residents in ways that are clear, respectful, and safe. After careful review, I will no longer actively post or engage on X (formerly Twitter) as of February 18.

This decision results from multiple factors, including concerns about the manipulation of the platform for political purposes. The final straw was the recent controversy around the management of the platform’s AI tool, Grok. Until significant active public pushback, Grok permitted the creation of non-consensual AI-generated deepfakes, particularly targeting women. Last month, the D.C. Attorney General joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general demanding that X address its AI tool’s role in enabling the creation of non-consensual deepfake images. Although the company responded to the controversy, questions remain about the adequacy of the protections adopted. Moreover, the fact that such uses were permitted in the first place only reinforces the serious reservations I have had about the platform over the last year and a half.

While no online platform is without challenges, X clearly no longer aligns with my values for official communication, particularly when it comes to preventing misuse of emerging technologies and protecting public trust.

My X account will remain online so residents can continue to access prior posts and to reduce the risk of impersonation. However, I will no longer post or engage there. My staff will continue to monitor the inbox and mentions to ensure any information or questions from residents are received.

I remain fully committed to transparency, responsiveness, and keeping residents informed. My office will continue to share updates and engage with the community through channels that allow for clearer communication and stronger safeguards, including:

• Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/cmfrumin.bsky.social
• Instagram: Instagram.com/cmfrumin
• Facebook: Facebook.com/cmfrumin
• YouTube: YouTube.com/@CMFrumin
• Website Newsroom: MattFruminWard3.com/newsroom
• Email Newsletter: Sign up at MattFruminWard 3.com on the home page

I encourage residents to connect with me and my office through these platforms and to reach out directly with questions, concerns, or ideas. Residents can email fruminoffice@dccouncil.gov or call 202-724-8062.