X-Network suspected of foreign interference in France

Social network X announced today that it is refusing to comply with requests from the Paris prosecutor's office to provide access to its algorithm.

The X network is under criminal investigation because it is suspected of making biased changes to its algorithm following allegations of foreign interference.

"X believes that this investigation distorts French law to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, limits freedom of expression," wrote the Public Relations Department of the American social network owned by Elon Musk.

It is added that for these reasons, X (formerly Twitter) did not comply with the requests of the French authorities, as it has the legal right not to do so.

According to Iks, French authorities requested access to its recommendation algorithm, as well as real-time data regarding all posts made by the platform's users.

The Paris prosecutor's office announced on July 11 that the Gendarmerie had been entrusted with an investigation into the X network and against the individuals who run the company.

The investigation, entrusted to the General Directorate of the National Gendarmerie, focuses in particular on the manipulation by an organized gang of the operation of an automated data processing system and the extraction of data from the automated data processing system.

The investigation comes after two reports received in January about "alleged use of the X algorithm for foreign interference," according to the public prosecutor's office.

One of these reports is from a lawmaker specializing in these issues, Eric Bottorel, a member of President Emmanuel Macron's party, who warned the judiciary about then "recent changes to the X company's algorithm, as well as the apparent interference in its management since Mask became its owner" - in 2022.

The company categorically rejects accusations of manipulating its algorithm for foreign interference.