X Claims French Criminal Investigation Is “Politically Motivated”

Social-media platform X (formerly Twitter) has denied a request by French prosecutors to access its algorithms as part of what it calls a “politically motivated” criminal investigation, as stated by its Global Government Affairs account. The investigation – launched earlier this month – cites suspected “foreign interference” by the platform.

In a July 11 statement by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office, the authorities announced they would launch a probe into X’s algorithm after two reports claimed the platform’s algorithm was used for the “purposes of foreign interference” without providing further details.

As part of the investigation, the Paris prosecutors requested access to X’s algorithms, which the company refused to provide. “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,” reads the company’s post, published on the 21st.

“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,” the post continues.

According to different news outlets, the Paris prosecutor’s office offered X a confidential channel to share the requested information with its investigators, but received no official response from the company. Lack of compliance with a judicial request can result in a fine or even obstruction of justice charges.

The company also decried its classification as an “organized gang” under the probe, which would give French authorities legal permission to “deploy extensive investigative powers under French law, including wiretapping the personal devices of X employees.”

This isn’t the first time that European regulators have asked to examine X’s underlying algorithms. In January, the European Commission, the EU’s primary executive branch, announced it would demand a closer inspection into X’s recommendation algorithms over the platform’s suspected role in the dissemination of illegal content, information manipulation, and deceptive design.