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Elon Musk's X has accused French prosecutors of launching a politically-driven criminal investigation into its platform, saying it will not cooperate with what it sees as an attack on free speech.
Social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, said Monday it would not cooperate with a French investigation that it claims is politically motivated and intended to restrict free expression. The company denied all allegations and rejected a judicial request to share access to its algorithm and real-time user data.
The dispute follows a move by Paris prosecutors earlier this month to escalate a preliminary probe into suspected algorithmic bias and data extraction at X. Under the expanded powers, police may conduct searches, wiretaps, or even summon Musk and other X executives for testimony. Non-compliance could lead to arrest warrants.
“X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech,” the company posted on its Global Government Affairs account.
In response to the July 19 judicial request for algorithm access, X said it had legal grounds to refuse and criticised the decision to investigate under organised crime statutes. These allow broad surveillance measures, including access to personal devices of company staff.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed it had sent a formal request to X, stating it offered a secure, confidential channel for investigators. It declined to comment on allegations of political bias but noted that failure to comply could lead to charges including obstruction of justice.
The probe was reportedly initiated following complaints from French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, who accused X of manipulating its recommendation algorithm to promote foreign interference. X strongly denied the charge and labelled it "completely false".
Bothorel defended the judiciary’s independence and said that France upheld free speech within legal bounds. “The absence of responsibility and oversight endangers freedom just as much as prohibitions and censorship do,” he said.
X also objected to the involvement of researchers David Chavalarias and Maziyar Panahi, who it said had shown hostility toward the platform. While Chavalarias did not respond, Panahi denied any role in the investigation and threatened legal action over what he called a false and damaging mention.
Elon Musk reposted a message by Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who wrote: “At this point, any tech company can be declared a ‘criminal gang’ in France. A decade of efforts to attract tech investment is being undone by a few bureaucrats advancing their careers and political agendas — at the expense of the French people.”
The case adds to ongoing scrutiny from the European Commission, which has been investigating X for possible violations of the Digital Services Act since late 2023. Musk has previously accused European governments of suppressing right-wing views and has criticised efforts to regulate content online.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on 13 September with no tsunami threat, coming just weeks after the region endured a devastating 8.8-magnitude quake — the strongest since 1952.
A U.S. citizen has been released from Kabul after a senior U.S. delegation led by Adam Boehler, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul.
The Warsaw Security Forum is kicking off in Poland on Monday, bringing together defence ministers, security experts, and international policymakers to discuss pressing global security challenges.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned on Monday that Europe cannot afford a war with Russia, but if its leaders were to trigger one, it could spiral into a conflict involving weapons of mass destruction.
Sweden will support Denmark with military anti-drone capabilities in connection with summits in Copenhagen this week, after drone sightings last week forced Denmark to shut several airports, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Monday.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met in Warsaw on Monday (29 September) within the Weimar Triangle framework.
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