French authorities have opened a formal investigation into allegations that social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, manipulated its algorithm in a way that enabled foreign interference in national political discourse.
The probe, confirmed Friday by Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, follows two complaints filed earlier this year and will scrutinize the platform’s operations and the roles of its senior executives.
While the prosecutor did not specifically name Elon Musk, who acquired X in 2022, the complaints center heavily on changes introduced since his takeover. The investigation will look into whether these alterations to the platform’s recommendation systems and moderation policies served foreign interests and posed a threat to democratic stability in France.
The first complaint was submitted on January 12 by Eric Bothorel, a centrist lawmaker affiliated with President Emmanuel Macron’s political party and known for his work on cybersecurity issues. Bothorel voiced concern over what he described as a noticeable narrowing of ideological diversity on the platform and a shift away from a secure and respectful online environment.
He specifically questioned what he described as “opaque algorithmic changes” and alleged “personal interventions from Elon Musk in moderation decisions,” arguing that these factors collectively present a “real danger and a threat for our democracies.”
The second complaint came from within the public sector, reportedly filed by a cybersecurity director in the French administration. According to investigative publication *Le Canard Enchainé*, the official warned of a sweeping algorithmic overhaul on X that resulted in a dramatic uptick in the visibility of politically charged content—much of it described as hateful, racist, or anti-LGBTQ. The complaint further asserted that this content serves to “distort democratic debate in France.”
The prosecutor’s office stated that the decision to launch an investigation came after thorough verifications, including contributions from French academic researchers and various political institutions. The preliminary focus is on potential violations related to organized manipulation of digital systems. While these alleged acts have not yet been officially classified under France’s 2024 law on aggravated foreign interference, authorities have left the door open to a reclassification as new evidence emerges.
X’s French director, Laurent Buanec, responded to the controversy in January by insisting the platform has “strict, clear and public rules” designed to combat hate speech and misinformation. He also defended the algorithm’s design, asserting that it is intended to prevent the promotion of harmful or hateful content.
Nonetheless, Musk’s outspoken commentary on European domestic politics—particularly his visible support for Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party—has fueled tensions with EU officials. Thierry Breton, France’s former commissioner for digital affairs, has gone so far as to label Musk’s pro-AfD activity as “foreign interference.”
In a related development, the European Commission launched a formal investigation into X in December 2023 under the Digital Services Act. This was followed in July 2024 by accusations that the platform had violated key provisions of the regulation, potentially exposing X to multi-billion euro fines if found culpable.
The French probe thus adds to growing international scrutiny surrounding Elon Musk’s stewardship of X, particularly amid concerns over the integrity of democratic processes and the amplification of extremist content. For now, authorities in Paris are working to determine whether recent algorithmic changes constitute a coordinated attempt at digital subversion—or simply reflect a contentious but legal shift in content curation strategy.
What you should know
French prosecutors have launched an investigation into allegations that X, formerly Twitter, manipulated its algorithm to facilitate foreign interference in French politics.
The probe follows complaints citing increased visibility of hate speech and politically polarizing content since Elon Musk took control of the platform. Although the case hasn’t yet been formally categorized under France’s new foreign interference laws, it could be reclassified as the investigation progresses. The move adds to mounting legal and regulatory pressure on X from both French and European Union authorities.
