Free speech: Musk’s X refuses to cooperate with ‘politically-motivated’ French probe

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has accused French prosecutors of launching a politically motivated criminal investigation that threatens free speech.

The company denied all allegations and said it would not cooperate with the probe.

French authorities recently escalated their preliminary investigation into X over suspected algorithmic bias and fraudulent data extraction.

With this escalation, police are now permitted to carry out searches, wiretaps, and surveillance on Musk and X executives. 

They can also summon them to testify.

If they fail to comply, a judge may issue arrest warrants.

“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,” the company said on its Global Government Affairs account.

X added that it refused a request from Paris prosecutors to access its recommendation algorithm and real-time data, claiming it had a legal right to decline.

The Paris prosecutor’s office did not respond to claims of political bias.

However, it confirmed that a judicial request was sent to X on July 19, asking solely for access to the algorithm.

The prosecutors said they had offered X a secure channel for confidential data sharing but had not yet received an official response.

Failure to comply could result in penalties ranging from fines to obstruction of justice charges.

Musk, a former ally of US President Donald Trump, has often accused European governments of undermining free speech.

He has also voiced support for certain far-right parties in Europe.

The case could widen a rift between the US and Europe over what kinds of speech should be allowed online.

Some senior US officials have accused European institutions of censoring right-wing voices globally.

The European Commission has been investigating X since late 2023 for potential violations of the Digital Services Act, which sets rules around transparency and illegal content online.

X criticized the use of organized crime laws in the French investigation, noting it could allow authorities to wiretap employees’ personal devices.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the alleged offenses carry maximum sentences of up to 10 years in prison.

X said the investigation was triggered by French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, who accused the platform of manipulating its algorithm for “foreign interference”—an allegation X called “completely false.”

Bothorel defended the independence of the judiciary.

“It’s a concept that seems completely upended in the United States at the moment,” he said.

He added that while France supports free speech, it also recognizes the need for accountability.

“The absence of responsibility and oversight endangers freedom just as much as prohibitions and censorship do,” he said.

X also claimed prosecutors wanted its data analyzed by researchers David Chavalarias and Maziyar Panahi, both of whom it said had shown “open hostility towards X.”

Chavalarias did not respond to a request for comment.

Panahi denied any involvement in the investigation.

“My name was mentioned by mistake, based on my previous research projects with David Chavalarias, none of which have ever had any hostile intent toward X,” he wrote in an email.

“The fact my name has been mentioned in such an erroneous manner demonstrates how little regard they have for the lives of others … I will not hesitate to pursue legal action for defamation should I receive any form of hate speech.”

An X spokesperson said the company stands by its statement.

(Reuters)

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