Elon Musk’s X Under Criminal Investigation in France for Alleged Algorithm Manipulation
French prosecutors have launched a criminal probe into X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, over allegations of algorithmic manipulation that could have distorted online discourse.
French Authorities Investigate Algorithm Bias
The Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed receiving a report from French lawmaker Eric Bothorel on January 12, accusing X of employing “biased algorithms” that may have distorted automated data processing. The cybercrime section of the prosecutor’s office is now conducting technical assessments of the platform.
X, formerly known as Twitter, has been criticized for content moderation issues since Musk acquired it for $44 billion in 2022. The company has yet to comment on the investigation.
EU and Algorithm Transparency Concerns
This investigation comes as the European Union is already scrutinizing X under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates social media platforms to combat harmful content. In January, the European Commission ordered X to provide internal documents about its algorithm by February 15 as part of its ongoing probe.
X has been accused of manipulating its algorithm to amplify far-right political content. Musk has publicly expressed support for Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, even making a surprise virtual appearance at a campaign event. The AfD is currently polling second ahead of Germany’s February 23 general election.
The outcome of the French and EU investigations could have significant implications for X’s operations in Europe, potentially leading to regulatory fines or further restrictions.
