French prosecutors investigate Elon Musk’s X over alleged algorithm manipulation

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, over allegations that the platform manipulated its algorithms to distort online discourse.

The Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed that it received a complaint on January 12 from French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, accusing X of using “biased algorithms” that could have distorted automated data processing.

The case has been assigned to the prosecutor’s cybercrime division, which is now conducting technical checks to assess the claims, CNBC reported.

X has faced ongoing scrutiny over its content moderation policies since Musk purchased the platform for $44 billion in 2022.

The latest investigation adds to growing concerns about how X's algorithms may be shaping public discussions and political narratives.

Meanwhile, the European Union is conducting a separate probe into X for potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA)—a law requiring social media platforms to prevent the spread of harmful content.

Last month, the European Commission ordered X to hand over internal documents detailing its algorithms by February 15 as part of the DSA investigation.

Critics have accused X of amplifying far-right content and political figures, with reports suggesting that its algorithms favor certain ideological viewpoints.

Musk himself has drawn attention for publicly supporting Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, even making a surprise virtual appearance at a campaign event.

With mounting regulatory pressure in Europe, the outcome of these investigations could have significant implications for X’s operations and the broader conversation around social media influence and algorithmic transparency.