Latest news with #Bothorel
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
X calls French probe politically motivated over algorithm claims
PARIS: Elon Musk's social media platform X has dismissed a French investigation into alleged foreign interference as politically motivated, refusing to comply with authorities' demands. The probe, launched on July 11, examines suspected manipulation of automated systems, including X's recommendation algorithm. 'X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech,' the company stated. It added that it has not granted French authorities access to its algorithm or real-time data, citing legal rights. The investigation follows complaints from Eric Bothorel, a lawmaker from President Emmanuel Macron's party, who accused X of reducing 'diversity of voices' since Musk's 2022 takeover. Bothorel also criticised Musk's political interventions, including support for Germany's far-right AfD party. 'Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate,' Bothorel said. X denied the allegations, calling them 'completely false.' The company also questioned the impartiality of experts selected by French authorities, including mathematician David Chavalarias and computer scientist Maziyar Panahi, both involved in a project encouraging users to leave X. Picking them 'raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness and political motivations of the investigation,' X said. It also objected to prosecutors classifying the case under an 'organised gang' clause, typically used for serious crimes like drug trafficking. - AFP
Local France
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Musk's X calls French foreign interference probe 'politically motivated'
"X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech," the social network said. It added that it "has not acceded to the French authorities' demands" to access its recommendation algorithm and real-time data, "as we have a legal right to do". Cybercrime prosecutors announced the opening of the probe on July 11th into suspected crimes including manipulating and extracting data from automated systems "as part of a criminal gang". Advertisement The move followed two complaints received in January about "foreign interference" in French politics via X - one of them from Eric Bothorel, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party. Bothorel had complained of "reduced diversity of voices and options" and Musk's "personal interventions" on the network since his 2022 takeover of the former Twitter. The Tesla and SpaceX chief has raised hackles in Europe with political sallies, including vocal backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of February legislative elections. "Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate," Bothorel said after the investigation was announced. The company responded on Monday saying, "Mr Bothorel has accused X of manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes, an allegation which is completely false." Prosecutors have not confirmed whether they are also investigating under a French law against foreign interference in politics passed last year. X also complained of bias in French authorities' choice of experts to examine its algorithm, including mathematician David Chavalarias and computer scientist Maziyar Panahi. Both have been involved in a scheme called "HelloQuitteX", designed to make it easier for users to migrate their X presence to other social networks. Picking them "raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness and political motivations of the investigation", the company said. It also objected to the use of the "organised gang" aggravating circumstance. The characterisation "is usually reserved for drug cartels or mafia groups" and "enables the French police to deploy extensive investigative powers... including wiretapping the personal devices of X employees," the company said.
NDTV
21-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Musk's X Calls French Foreign Interference Probe "Politically Motivated", Refuses To Cooperate
A French probe into alleged foreign interference and bias via the algorithm at Elon Musk-owned social network X is "politically motivated", the company said in a post Monday, adding that it was refusing to cooperate. "X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech," the social network said. It added that it "has not acceded to the French authorities' demands" to access its recommendation algorithm and real-time data, "as we have a legal right to do". Cybercrime prosecutors announced the opening of the probe on July 11 into suspected crimes including manipulating and extracting data from automated systems "as part of a criminal gang". The move followed two complaints received in January about "foreign interference" in French politics via X -- one of them from Eric Bothorel, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party. Bothorel had complained of "reduced diversity of voices and options" and Musk's "personal interventions" on the network since his 2022 takeover of the former Twitter. The Tesla and SpaceX chief has raised hackles in Europe with political sallies, including vocal backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of February legislative elections. "Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate," Bothorel said after the investigation was announced. The company responded Monday saying, "Mr Bothorel has accused X of manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes, an allegation which is completely false." Prosecutors have not confirmed whether they are also investigating under a French law against foreign interference in politics passed last year. X also complained of bias in French authorities' choice of experts to examine its algorithm, including mathematician David Chavalarias and computer scientist Maziyar Panahi. Both have been involved in a scheme called "HelloQuitteX", designed to make it easier for users to migrate their X presence to other social networks. Picking them "raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness and political motivations of the investigation", the company said. It also objected to the use of the "organised gang" aggravating circumstance. The characterisation "is usually reserved for drug cartels or mafia groups" and "enables the French police to deploy extensive investigative powers... including wiretapping the personal devices of X employees," the company said.
LeMonde
21-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
X refuses to cooperate with French probe into algorithm bias
The social network is refusing to cooperate with a French probe into alleged foreign interference and bias via the algorithm, it said in a post on Monday, July 21, calling the investigation "politically motivated." Cybercrime prosecutors announced the opening of the probe on July 11 into suspected crimes including manipulating and extracting data from automated systems "as part of a criminal gang." "X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech," the social network owned by Elon Musk said. It added that it "has not acceded to the French authorities' demands" to access its recommendation algorithm and real-time data, "as we have a legal right to do." The investigation was opened followed two complaints received in January about "foreign interference" in French politics via X, one of them from Eric Bothorel, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party. Bothorel had complained of "reduced diversity of voices and options" and Musk's "personal interventions" on the network since his 2022 takeover of the former Twitter. 'Organized gang' The Tesla and SpaceX chief has raised hackles in Europe with political sallies, including vocal backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of February legislative elections. "Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate," Bothorel said after the investigation was announced. The company responded Monday saying, "Mr Bothorel has accused X of manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes, an allegation which is completely false." Prosecutors have not confirmed whether they are also investigating under a French law against foreign interference in politics passed last year. X also complained of bias in French authorities' choice of experts to examine its algorithm, including mathematician David Chavalarias and computer scientist Maziyar Panahi. Both have been involved in a scheme called "HelloQuitteX," designed to make it easier for users to migrate their X presence to other social networks. Picking them "raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness and political motivations of the investigation", the company said. It also objected to the use of the "organized gang" aggravating circumstance. The characterisation "is usually reserved for drug cartels or mafia groups" and "enables the French police to deploy extensive investigative powers (...) including wiretapping the personal devices of X employees," the company said.
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First Post
21-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
X slams French probe into algorithm manipulation as politically driven attack on free speech
X claimed it had been asked by French authorities to hand over access to its recommendation algorithm and 'data about all user posts on the platform' read more Elon Musk's social media platform X has pushed back against a French criminal investigation into alleged algorithmic manipulation, describing the probe as politically motivated and an attempt to curb free expression. In a statement issued on Monday (July 21), X claimed it had been asked by French authorities to hand over access to its recommendation algorithm and 'data about all user posts on the platform'. The platform said it had refused to comply with the request and had yet to receive clarity on the specific accusations being levelled against it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '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. The Paris prosecutor's office said on July 11 that it had opened the inquiry following reports submitted in January by a French MP and a senior official. It is investigating possible violations including 'tampering with the functioning of an automated data processing system' and the 'fraudulent extraction of data'. The prosecutor's office confirmed it had asked for access to X's algorithm in a letter dated July 19 but insisted it had not sought user data. X alleged that the inquiry was 'instigated' by Éric Bothorel, a lawmaker from President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party. Bothorel told the Financial Times that he had flagged several issues with the platform to prosecutors, including its alleged lack of content moderation and what he characterised as the 'biased promotion of rightwing content'. 'If the justice system is taking next steps . . . it means they think it is necessary,' Bothorel said. He cited Elon Musk's promotion of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in January as a cause for concern. The French probe runs parallel to broader scrutiny of X by the European Commission, which is examining whether the company has breached the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping regulation aimed at curbing online harms. Brussels has delayed a decision on that inquiry until September. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last week, the Commission reportedly discussed potentially harmful or illegal responses generated by Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Musk's xAI, in conversations with X executives. A formal investigation remains under consideration. Bothorel criticised the EU's slow progress in enforcing DSA rules, saying: 'It's disheartening to see the European Union fail to take responsibility when it comes to enforcing — and especially applying— the sanctions regimes that were envisioned under the DSA and DMA.' 'If I chose to refer the matter to the justice system, it was also to provoke the commission a bit,' he added.
