X Refuses to Comply with French Investigation, Citing Political Motivation

French Investigation into X's Algorithm

French authorities have launched a criminal investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter, over allegations of algorithm manipulation and fraudulent data extraction 1

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. The probe, which began in January 2025, was initiated following complaints from a French member of parliament and a senior public official 2

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X's Refusal to Comply

X has categorically denied the allegations and refused to comply with the French authorities' demands for access to its recommendation algorithm and real-time user data 1

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. The company argues that the investigation is politically motivated and designed to restrict free speech 2

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Political Context and Allegations

The investigation stems from concerns raised by Eric Bothorel, a member of President Macron's Renaissance party, who has been critical of X since Elon Musk's takeover in 2022 1

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. Bothorel alleged that X was limiting certain views and opinions, and complained about Musk's personal interventions in platform management 1

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Experts and Impartiality Concerns

X has raised concerns about the impartiality of the investigation, specifically naming two experts appointed to analyze the data:

1. David Chavalarias, director of the Paris Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF)
2. Maziyar Panahi, an AI platform leader at ISC-PIF

X claims these individuals have demonstrated open hostility towards the platform, with Chavalarias running an "Escape X" campaign encouraging users to leave the platform 2

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Legal Implications

French authorities have classified X as an "organized gang," a designation typically reserved for criminal organizations 1

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. This classification could allow for more extensive investigative methods, including potential wiretapping of X employees' personal devices 4

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Broader Context of Tech Regulation

This investigation is part of a larger trend of increased scrutiny of social media platforms in Europe. In 2023, France enacted the LOPMI law, which strengthens the government's powers in prosecuting site managers who break legal boundaries 1

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. The law has already been used against Telegram's founder and CEO, Pavel Durov 1

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X's Defense and Future Implications

X maintains that it remains unaware of the specific allegations against it and argues that the investigation distorts French law to serve a political agenda 2

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. The company's refusal to cooperate could potentially lead to further legal complications and may impact its operations in France 3

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This standoff between X and French authorities highlights the ongoing tensions between tech companies and regulatory bodies, particularly concerning issues of algorithm transparency, data privacy, and the balance between free speech and content moderation 1

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