French Prosecutors Open Investigation Into X (Formerly Twitter) Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations

[johnblockbuster]

Big news coming out of France: the French Public Prosecutor’s Office has officially launched an investigation into X (Elon Musk’s rebranded Twitter) over claims that its algorithm was used to manipulate user data — possibly for political interference.
What’s going on?

The probe was sparked after two reports were filed on January 12 — one by French MP Éric Bothorel (from President Macron’s party), and another by a senior government official (unnamed).

Bothorel says he suspects the X algorithm was biased to promote Elon Musk’s political views by manipulating data and user engagement in a way that violates French law.

The investigation is now handled by France’s J3 cybercrime unit, which is known for high-profile cases (including the 2024 arrest of Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov).

What exactly are they investigating?

The focus is on:

Tampering with automated data systems as part of an organized group

Fraudulent extraction of user data from those systems

In simple terms: whether X’s algorithm was tweaked unlawfully to harvest user data and influence opinions.
Why does this matter?

Since Elon Musk bought X in 2022, regulators across Europe have been watching closely. Some highlights:

In Germany, NGOs forced X to share public engagement data to check for election interference

The EU is investigating X for potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA) — a tough new law requiring platforms to remove illegal content and be transparent about algorithms

Musk’s vision to turn X into a crypto-powered financial hub could face hurdles if regulatory trust erodes in Europe

What’s next?

With Europe cracking down harder on Big Tech and social media manipulation, this case could set a precedent for how platforms like X manage their algorithms and user data — especially when political bias is suspected.

If you’re watching the intersection of crypto, social media, and regulation, this one’s definitely worth following.

What do you think — is this just regulatory overreach, or a necessary step to keep social media honest? Drop your thoughts!