French prosecutors have initiated an investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter, over allegations of algorithm manipulation. The investigation follows a report from French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, who accused X of employing "biased algorithms" that were "likely to have distorted the operation of an automated data processing system." The Paris public prosecutor's office received the report on January 12.
The French investigation is being conducted by magistrates and specialized assistants from the office's cybercrime section. Their focus remains on allegations that X distorted its algorithms to manipulate discourse on its platform. This comes amidst mounting criticism of X's content moderation practices, particularly since Elon Musk acquired the company for $44 billion in 2022.
In parallel, the European Union is investigating X for potential breaches of the Digital Services Act, which mandates social media companies to curb the spread of harmful content. As part of this probe, X has been asked to submit internal documents related to its algorithms by February 15. However, it is important to note that the EU's investigation is distinct from the one being conducted by French authorities. While the EU's focus is on potential violations of the Digital Services Act, the French investigation concentrates on the alleged algorithm distortion.
Concerns regarding X's content moderation have persisted since Musk's takeover. Critics argue that the platform's handling of harmful content has been inadequate, prompting scrutiny from both French and EU authorities. The ongoing investigations highlight the growing regulatory pressure faced by social media companies to ensure transparency and accountability in their operations.