Paris, France – French prosecutors have launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, over allegations of algorithmic bias. The probe was initiated following a complaint filed by centrist lawmaker Eric Bothorel on January 12, raising concerns about the platform’s automated systems.
Bothorel alleged that X’s algorithms were biased and could potentially distort the operation of an automated data processing system. The Paris public prosecutor’s office has tasked prosecutors and specialized assistants from its cybercrime unit to conduct preliminary technical checks as part of their investigation.
The investigation comes just days before a major AI summit in Paris, which will host global leaders including US Vice President JD Vance, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and executives from Alphabet and Microsoft. The probe underscores growing global concerns over the influence of X, which Musk rebranded from Twitter after acquiring it.
Bothorel, who raised his concerns on X, stated that he had written to the J3 cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutors’ office. The J3 unit, known for its proactive approach, previously investigated Telegram boss Pavel Durov, who was arrested upon landing at a Paris airport.
X, formerly known as Twitter, has not yet responded to the allegations. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the regulation of social media platforms across Europe.