France Launches Investigation into X Over Alleged Foreign Interference and Algorithm Manipulation

The French authorities have launched a criminal investigation into Elon Musk's X platform, alleging instances of algorithm manipulation for foreign interference purposes. The national gendarmerie will be tasked with the investigation, according to a statement from Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau.

"We are investigating X as a legal entity as well as unnamed individuals," said Beccuau. "Within the scope of this investigation, we are looking at potential offenses such as 'alteration of the operation' and 'fraudulent extraction of data' from an automated data processing system by an organized group."

The move follows initial probes opened by the Paris prosecutor's office in February, which were sparked by reports made by a French public institution and a member of parliament, Éric Bothorel. Bothorel had expressed concerns that X was using algorithm manipulation to serve Elon Musk's political opinions and distort democratic conversations.

Concerns Over Information Bias and Algorithmic Manipulation

"I was convinced that information bias, which is particularly strong on the X platform, was serving Elon Musk's political opinions, and that this could only be achieved through algorithmic manipulation," said Bothorel. "As an MP, I wanted to file a report not just as a politician but also as a citizen who does not want Moscow, Silicon Valley, or anyone else to distort our democratic conversations."

Bothorel praised the work of the Paris prosecutor's office, particularly its cyber section, which he said will likely need to be strengthened at a time when cyber threats continue to increase.

Paris Prosecutor Overseeing Multiple Investigations

Laure Beccuau is also overseeing another ongoing judicial investigation into Telegram and its CEO Pavel Durov, who was arrested for alleged facilitation of criminal activity on the platform. Durov has since obtained court approval to leave France for Dubai, but the investigation continues.

Background on X's Recent Controversies

In July, X took the automated account for its AI chatbot offline after it spent Tuesday afternoon pushing antisemitic narratives, which weren't a first. The European Commission is reportedly "in touch" with X over this very topic.

The Grok Update and Algorithmic Manipulation

Bothorel also expressed concerns about the new update to Grok, saying it seems to be tipping into the dark side of the force with a predominance of questionable content. He welcomed news of the investigation moving forward, hoping that it will address these concerns.

The Investigation: What's Next?

As the investigation unfolds, we can expect more updates on X and its alleged manipulation of algorithms for foreign interference purposes. TechCrunch will continue to provide coverage of this developing story as more information becomes available.

Stay tuned for more updates from TechCrunch