AMSTERDAM, May 31 (Reuters) – Vera Bergkamp, the chairwoman of the Dutch parliament, urged Twitter on Wednesday to take action in addressing threats broadcasted on the social media platform against the country’s lawmakers.
Bergkamp made her concerns public by releasing a letter she sent to the Global Affairs department of the U.S. company. The letter expressed “deep concern” over recent tweets targeting members of parliament, containing death threats and calls for violence, potentially punishable under Dutch criminal law.
Geert Wilders, leader of the Netherlands’ anti-Islam Freedom Party, has been the frequent target of death threats on Twitter for over a decade.
Twitter was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk in October 2022, who subsequently reduced staff, including those responsible for content moderation, in favor of more automated systems. Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has stated his intention to prevent the platform from becoming an echo chamber for hate and division.
“I understand Twitter works hard to minimize toxic and illegal content,” Bergkamp wrote in her letter. “Despite that, I urge you to take immediate action to address this issue… in order to protect our freedom of expression.”
Twitter has not immediately responded to requests for comment sent to their press email and the company’s Global Affairs account.
While not a member of parliament, Sigrid Kaag, the Netherlands’ Finance Minister and a member of the center-left D-66 Party, has also faced online and offline threats. Kaag recently indicated that she might consider quitting politics as a result, sparking a national discussion.
