X Refuses to Comply with French Investigation, Citing Political Motivation

X tells the French police 'non' to algorithm data demands

The site formerly known as Twitter has said it will not hand over any information to French police over an investigation into its recommendation algorithms. Earlier this month, French police announced [PDF] they were investigating X after a member of the nation's parliament and a top official claimed that the social media network was manipulating its algorithm for nefarious purposes and abusing the data of its users. The prosecutors have demanded information on how the X algorithm is structured, and also want data on users and their behavior. X named the politician as Eric Bothorel, a member of the National Assembly for President Macron's Renaissance party. "French authorities have launched a politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged 'fraudulent data extraction.' X categorically denies these allegations," X's Global Government Affairs said in a post on its own site. "X has not acceded to the French authorities' demands, as we have a legal right to do. This is not a decision that X takes lightly. However, in this case, the facts speak for themselves." Bothorel has reportedly been highly critical of X since Musk took it over in 2022, saying that it was limiting certain views and opinions, and complaining about "personal interventions from Elon Musk in the management on his platform." X alleges that the research will be biased against it, and claimed that two academics, David Chavalarias and Maziyar Panahi, respectively the director and AI leader of the Paris Complex Systems Institute, would be used to dig through the data. In 2023, they were coauthors of a paper in the journal Nature, which suggested that the X algorithm was amplifying toxic tweets. "The involvement of these individuals raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness, and political motivations of the investigation, to put it charitably. A predetermined outcome is not a fair one," the X team claimed. It went on to contend that the French police were classifying X as an "organized gang," along the lines of a drug cartel, and that they may try wiretapping the communications of X workers - despite investigators making no mention of any such potential surveillance. In 2023, France enacted the LOPMI law - technically the Orientation and Programming Law of the Ministry of the Interior. This toughens up the French government's powers when it comes to prosecuting the managers of sites that break legal boundaries. It has already been used to detain Telegram's founder and CEO Pavel Durov. He has since been released on €5 million bail and has pledged to have Telegram moderate its users more carefully to weed out criminal behavior. However, that investigation was carried out into suspected criminal activities, not political interference. The French flics might have a much tougher time prosecuting X, although maybe Musk should leave La République off his holiday list for the time being. ®

Musk's X refuses to hand over data in 'politically-motivated' French investigation

French prosecutors started an investigation in January over allegations that the company's algorithm was being used for the purposes of foreign interference. Elon Musk's X on Monday denied allegations made by French authorities as part of a criminal investigation into alleged data tampering, adding that it would not submit to the prosecutor's demand to hand over data. X's global government affairs account said the French investigation, which ramped up this month, is "politically-motivated" and designed to "restrict free speech." "French authorities have launched a politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged "fraudulent data extraction," X said in a post on the social media platform. "X categorically denies these allegations." French prosecutors started an investigation in January over allegations that the company's algorithm was being used for the purposes of foreign interference. The probe began after two complaints -- one from a French member of parliament and another from a senior official at a public institution. This month, the investigation was handed over to a key unit of France's national police. Prosecutors said the investigation would focus on investigating offences of tampering with automated data systems as well as the fraudulent extraction of data from these systems. "French authorities have requested access to X's recommendation algorithm and real-time data about all user posts on the platform in order for several 'experts' to analyze the data and purportedly 'uncover the truth' about the operation of the X platform," X said. Musk's social media platform also said it, "remains in the dark as to the specific allegations made" against it. "However, based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech," X said. "For these reasons, X has not acceded to the French authorities' demands, as we have a legal right to do. This is not a decision that X takes lightly. However, in this case, the facts speak for themselves." CNBC has reached out to the Paris prosecutor's office for comment. X took fire at two specific individuals. The company claimed the two "experts" who will review X's algorithm are David Chavalarias, director of the Paris Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF) and Maziyar Panahi, an AI platform leader at ISC-PIF. X noted Chavalarias runs a campaign called "Escape X" which encourages users to leave the social media platform, and said Panahi "has previously participated in research projects with David Chavalarias that demonstrate open hostility towards X." Both researchers have indeed been named on a research paper related to X. "The involvement of these individuals raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness, and political motivations of the investigation, to put it charitably. A predetermined outcome is not a fair one," X said. CNBC has reached out to both Chavalarias and Panahi, and has yet to receive a comment on X's statement.

France launches criminal probe of X's alleged algorithm 'manipulation'

The social media platform is refusing to comply with the government's access requests. 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."

Elon Musk's X refuses to assist French prosecutors, says probe serves a political agenda

Why it matters: Elon Musk's X is once again defying authorities' demands. On this occasion, the platform is refusing to comply with a probe launched by French prosecutors, part of what the company calls a "politically-motivated criminal investigation." French prosecutors started investigating X in January over alleged manipulation of its algorithm and what they call "fraudulent data extraction." It was spurred by complaints from a French member of parliament and a senior official at a public institution. The probe was stepped up earlier this month. Reuters writes that police have been enlisted to investigate the alleged actions by the company or its executives. In a post on its Global Government Affairs account today, X wrote that it categorically denied the allegations made against it by French authorities. It added that the investigation undermines the platform's right to due process and threatens its users' rights to privacy and free speech. X says that French authorities have requested access to its recommendation algorithm and real-time data about all user posts on the platform. The data will be analyzed by several experts to purportedly "uncover the truth" about X's operations. X says the two experts who review its algorithm are David Chavalarias, director of the Paris Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF), and Maziyar Panahi, an AI platform leader at ISC-PIF. It claims that both have been openly hostile toward X in the past, and that Chavalarias runs a campaign called "Escape X," which encourages people to leave the platform. X says the individuals' involvement raises questions about the impartiality, fairness, and political motivations behind the investigation. "X remains in the dark as to the specific allegations made against the platform. However, based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech," the post continues. The company says that for these reasons, it has not acceded to the French authorities demands, which it has a legal right to do. X also noted that French authorities have classified X as an organized gang, a characterization usually reserved for drug cartels or mafia groups. The move will allow French police to use extensive investigative methods, including wiretapping the personal devices of X employees. While X owner Elon Musk and Donald Trump have fallen out, the President will likely be angry to see another American company being investigated in Europe. Musk, meanwhile, has publicly supported Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who was arrested in France last year over allegations he allowed criminal activity on the app. Durov called his arrest an attack on free speech, which Musk echoed.

Musk's X says French probe into algorithm is 'politically motivated'

France alleges that X's algorithm was being used for foreign interference. Elon Musk's social media platform X denied allegations by French authorities that it was part of a criminal investigation into alleged data tampering. The company also said on Monday that the French investigation is "politically-motivated" and designed to "restrict free speech" and denied the allegations. "French authorities have launched a politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged 'fraudulent data extraction,'" the company wrote on X. In January, French prosecutors launched an investigation following allegations that X's algorithm was being used for the purposes of foreign interference. The first complaint was filed by a centrist member of parliament, Eric Bothorel, a member of President Emmanuel Macron's party. Bothorel warned against "recent changes to the X algorithm, as well as apparent interference in its management" since Elon Musk acquired the company in 2022. He said there has been in "reduction in the diversity of voices and options" that go against a secure and respectful environment on the social media platform. He blamed this on "a lack of clarity in criteria that led to algorithm changes and moderation decisions", and to "personal interventions from Elon Musk in the management of his platform". In February, the French investigative media Le Canard Enchaine reported that the second complaint came from a cybersecurity director in the public administration. The individual had reported a "major modification in the algorithm used by the X platform," which had resulted in a huge amount of political content that is "hateful, racist, anti-LGBTQ (or) homophobic, and aims to skew democratic debate in France". X said that it remained in the dark about what the allegations were but that "based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech". It said that for these reasons, X would not hand over data, despite the prosecutor's demand. X has also said that the experts who will review X's algorithm are biased. The two experts are David Chavalarias, director of the Paris Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF) and Maziyar Panahi, an AI platform leader at ISC-PIF. X said that Chavalarias runs a campaign called "Escape X," which encourages users to leave the social media platform and that Panahi had in the past participated in research projects with Chavalarias that demonstrate open hostility towards X". "The involvement of these individuals raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness, and political motivations of the investigation, to put it charitably. A predetermined outcome is not a fair one," X said. Euronews Next has reached out to the prosecutors' office and X but did not receive a reply at the time of publication. X owner Elon Musk has previously caused outcry by European politicians for commenting about domestic politics and publicly supporting Germany's far-right AfD party.