France launches criminal probe of X’s alleged algorithm ‘manipulation’

France is investigating whether X has manipulated its algorithm and engaged in “fraudulent data extraction.” Prosecutors are looking into if the social media platform engaged in election interference. They launched the investigation on July 11, following reports in January. It has labelled X as an “organized gang.”

X’s Global Government Affairs account issued a scathing breakdown of what it calls France’s “politically-motivated criminal investigation” and its refusal to cooperate.

The French government has requested that X provide its “recommendation algorithm and real-time data about all user posts on the platform.” France is using multiple experts to look at the information. One is David Chavalarias, director of the Paris Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF), who leads the “Escape X” campaign. Another expert Maziyar Panahi, an AI engineer at ISC-PIF, worked on research projects alongside Chavalarias “that demonstrate open hostility towards X.”

Unsurprisingly, X is not happy about the involvement of Chavalarias and Panahi, claiming it could mean a predetermined outcome. As a result, X is refusing to provide French authorities with the requested access.

In the statement, X said the investigation, led by parliamentarian Éric Bothorel, “egregiously undermines X’s fundamental right to due process and threatens our users’ rights to privacy and free speech. Mr Bothorel has accused X of manipulating its algorithm for ‘foreign interference’ purposes, an allegation which is completely false.”