France is investigating whether X manipulated its algorithm and engaged in “fraudulent data mining.” Prosecutors are looking into whether the social network was involved in election meddling. The investigation was launched on July 11, following reports in January. It called X an “organized gang”.
X’s Global Government Relations account published a scathing critique of what it called a “politically motivated criminal investigation” in France and refused to cooperate with it.
The French government asked X to provide “a recommendation algorithm and real-time data on all user posts on the platform.” France has engaged several experts to analyze this information. One of them is David Chavalarias, director of the Paris Institute of Complex Systems (ISC-PIF), who is leading the Escape X campaign. Another expert, Maziar Panahi, an artificial intelligence engineer at ISC-PIF, has worked on research projects with Shavalarias “that demonstrate open hostility to X.”
Unsurprisingly, X is unhappy with the involvement of Shavalarias and Panahi, claiming that it could mean a pre-determined outcome. As a result, X refuses to grant the French authorities the requested access.
In a statement, X said that the investigation, led by parliamentarian Eric Botelle, “blatantly undermines X’s fundamental right to due process and threatens our users’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression.” Mr. Botorel accused X of manipulating the algorithm for the purpose of “foreign interference,” which is a completely false claim.”
