X Refuses French Demand for Algorithm Data, Citing “Politically Motivated” Probe

The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has refused to comply with a request from French law enforcement, which is conducting an investigation into the workings of its recommendation algorithms. Prosecutors had demanded technical documentation concerning the platform’s content-selection mechanisms, as well as behavioral data on its users. In response, X declared its refusal to cooperate, asserting that the case is politically motivated.

The criminal inquiry stems from allegations brought forward by Éric Bothorel, a member of the National Assembly from the Renaissance party, along with a senior government official. They claim the platform’s algorithms distort information distribution and that user data is being exploited for unethical purposes. In a statement from X’s government affairs division, the company said: “French authorities have initiated a politically motivated criminal investigation based on accusations of manipulation and ‘fraudulent data extraction.’ X strongly disagrees with these allegations.”

The company emphasized its legal right to withhold the requested information. “This decision was not made impulsively—we have firm legal grounds for our refusal. In this case, the facts speak for themselves,” company representatives added.

Bothorel has long been a vocal critic of the platform. Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company in 2022, he has repeatedly voiced concerns about the owner’s interference in governance and the suppression of certain viewpoints.

In January 2024, the European Commission launched its own investigation into possible violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA). As part of the inquiry, X was required to log all changes to its algorithms and the logic underpinning its recommendation systems. EU officials also publicly criticized Musk’s political affiliations, particularly his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

The company has expressed skepticism about the impartiality of the experts selected to conduct the analysis. These include David Chavalarias and Maziar Panahi of the Paris Institute of Complex Systems, co-authors of a 2023 Nature publication that claimed X’s algorithms amplify toxic content. “The involvement of these individuals raises serious concerns about the neutrality, objectivity, and political motivation of the investigation. To put it mildly, it appears the outcome has already been decided,” the company stated.

X also alleged that law enforcement had effectively equated the platform with an “organized criminal enterprise”—on par with drug cartels. According to the company, such a comparison exceeds the bounds of reason and could lead to the surveillance of its employees, despite the absence of any explicit mention of this in official documentation.

Adding further context is France’s 2023 LOPMI law, which enhanced regulatory oversight of digital services. It was under this law that Telegram founder Pavel Durov was previously detained, later posting €5 million in bail and promising to strengthen content moderation on his platform.

However, unlike the Telegram case, which involved the alleged concealment of criminal activity, the proceedings against X appear to center on presumed political influence—making it significantly harder for French authorities to secure a conviction. As some observers wryly note, Elon Musk might do well to remove France from his future travel itinerary.