French justice is closely interested in the functioning of Elon Musk’s social network. An investigation was entrusted to the national gendarmerie after reports of a possible diverted use of the platform algorithm.
The Cybercrime Fighting section of the Paris prosecutor’s office opened on July 9 an investigation targeting the social network X and its leaders, suspected of having biased the platform algorithm for foreign interference purposes, the Paris prosecutor announced on Friday. An investigation was entrusted to the national gendarmerie against the X network, as a legal person, and against “Natural persons” Who directs her, said Laure Beccuau in a press release, without quoting the name of her boss, Elon Musk, a multimillionaire also boss of Tesla.
This comes after two reports received on January 12, which “mentioned the supposed use of X (ex-owner) algorithm for foreign interference “details the prosecution. The first came from the macronist deputy of Côtes-d’Armor specializing in these questions, Éric Bothorel. He alerted the prosecution to “Recent changes in X algorithm, as well as apparent interference in its management since its acquisition by Elon Musk ” In 2022.
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He underlined a “Reduction of the diversity of voices and options”a platform that moves away from a goal of “guarantee a safe and respectful environment for everyone ”and “Lack of clarity as to the criteria that led to changes in algorithms and moderation decisions”as well as “Personal interventions of Elon Musk in the management of its platform”either “A real danger and a threat to our democracies”.
An algorithm “built so as to avoid hateful content”
According to information from the Duck chained in February, the second report came from a director of cybersecurity in the public service who had reportedly pointed out “A major modification in the algorithm used by the X platform which today offers a lot of hateful, racist, anti-LGBT+political content, homophobic and which therefore aim to biaise democratic debate in France”.
The prosecution, which had confirmed in early February studying these reports, said in its press release on Friday to have opened this procedure “On the basis of checks, contributions from French researchers and elements provided by various public institutions”.
The survey was entrusted to the Directorate General of the National Gendarmerie, and “notably” On the following offenses: alteration of the operation of an automated processing system in organized band, as well as fraudulent data of data from an automated processing system in organized band.
The boss of X France, Laurent Buanec, had provided on January 22 on his social network that “X has strict, clear and public rules aimed at protecting the platform from hate speeches”, “Fight against disinformation” and that his algorithm “is built so as to avoid offering you hateful content. ”
