France opens criminal investigation into X for alleged algorithmic manipulation

Key Points

1. The investigation was initiated after two reports were submitted to the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office’s cybercrime division on Jan. 12, including one from MP Éric Bothorel.

2. MP Bothorel alleged that X’s algorithm was manipulated to serve Elon Musk’s political opinions, creating an 'informational bias' on the platform.

3. France’s J3 cybercrime unit is leading the probe into potential violations of French law.

4. X has faced increasing regulatory challenges in Europe since Elon Musk’s acquisition in 2022, including a recent ruling in Germany requiring compliance with transparency laws.

5. The investigation coincides with Musk’s efforts to expand X into a financial hub with crypto services, which may face additional regulatory hurdles in the EU.