Dozens of academic organizations in Germany and Austria say they will leave the social media platform X, claiming X no longer fulfils its responsibility to promote a fair and democratic discourse.

More than 60 universities and research institutions across Germany, and some Austrian universities, made the announcement on Friday.

They argue that right-wing populist content is algorithmically amplified on X, and that the platform's current direction is incompatible with the core values of the participating institutions, including scientific integrity and democratic discourse.

Goethe University Frankfurt, which jointly announced its withdrawal from X, said in a statement that since the takeover by Elon Musk, X's algorithm has been "manipulated to favor content that corresponds to the owner's worldview."

The university also said, "X has developed from a place of constructive exchange into a tool for disinformation."

Musk has been accused of meddling in the German election after the US tech billionaire made an appeal on X, ahead of the parliamentary election in February.

He urged German voters to support a right-wing political party which takes a tough line on migrants and refugees.