X faces criminal investigation in France over potential algorithm manipulation

French officials have launched a criminal investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, following a probe exploring whether or not the platform’s algorithm was manipulated for the purposes of “foreign interference.”

The platform is accused of altering its algorithms and fraudulently extracting data from users, said Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau. The investigation will look into possible “organized data system manipulation,” or what is considered under French law to be criminal hacking, a crime that carries a sentence of 10 years in prison and a $350,000 fine. French officials are investigating the platform itself, a legal entity related to the company, and several unnamed individuals. The case was brought forth by a lawmaker and a civil servant, reported Politico, joining other members of the French Parliament who have raised issue with Musk’s X, including recent antisemitic comments by AI chatbot Grok.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement issued Friday that France’s national gendarmerie, a branch of the armed forces, was assigned to the case earlier this week. Investigators will be looking for evidence that X altered its content display algorithms to highlight themes favorable to the far right, Le Monde reports, and promoted posts from far-right candidates in recent European elections. Earlier this year, Musk made a virtual appearance at a rally for the German far-right party Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD), saying he believed the party was “the best hope for Germany.”

France first opened up the inquiry in February, in response to a letter sent by French lawmaker Éric Bothorel. “Elon Musk’s personal involvement in the management of the platform, but also in several elections concerning European countries, represents a real danger and threat to our democracies,” he wrote. The probe was also investigating a complaint that X has experienced a surge in “hateful, racist, anti-LGBT+, and homophobic political content,” which could “skew the democratic debate in France.”

In 2023, the European Union Commission opened an investigation into Musk for breaching multiple provisions, including “information manipulation,” of the recently passed Digital Services Act (DSA).