US condemns French inquiry into social media platform X
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Social media company X last week denied the allegations, calling them “politically motivated”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON – US officials issued a harsh condemnation on July 25 of France’s criminal investigation into the social media platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, on suspicion of foreign interference.
“As part of a criminal investigation, an activist French prosecutor is requesting information on X’s proprietary algorithm and has classified X as an ‘organised crime group’,” the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour wrote on their X account.
“Democratic governments should allow all voices to be heard, not silence speech they dislike. The United States will defend the free speech of all Americans against acts of foreign censorship.”
Paris cybercrime prosecutors called for the police probe on July 11 to investigate suspected crimes – including manipulating and extracting data from automated systems “as part of a criminal gang”.
The social media company last week denied the allegations, calling them “politically motivated”.
X also said it had refused to comply with the prosecutor’s request to access its recommendation algorithm and real-time data.
The investigation follows two January complaints that alleged the X algorithm had been used for foreign interference in French politics.
One of the complaints came from MP Eric Bothorel from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, who complained of “reduced diversity of voices and options” and Mr Musk’s “personal interventions” in the platform’s management since he took it over.
X said it “categorically denies” all allegations and that the probe “is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech”.
Tesla and SpaceX chief Musk has raised hackles with his forays into European politics, including vocal backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany 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,” Mr Bothorel said after the investigation was announced. AFP
