X Says French Accusations of Data Tampering and Fraud Are Politically Motivated

Social media platform X stated on July 21 that allegations by French authorities of data tampering and fraud are politically motivated, after prosecutors in Paris opened a criminal investigation into the company’s algorithm and data practices.

The platform, owned by Elon Musk, stated that it “categorically denies” any wrongdoing and warned that the probe threatens user privacy and free speech.

The French investigation could widen existing tensions between Washington and European capitals over online speech, as Musk and U.S. government officials have raised concerns about European regulators’ approach to content moderation.

The Paris prosecutor’s office announced the investigation on July 11, targeting X for alleged algorithm manipulation and fraudulent data extraction.

Prosecutors said the inquiry involves both the X platform and individuals but did not disclose names or describe their roles within the company.

X criticized French law enforcement for treating the case as an “organized gang” investigation, arguing that this designation allows authorities to use sweeping investigative powers, including wiretapping employee devices.

Origins of the Investigation

According to prosecutors, the investigation stems from information provided in January to the French cybercrimes unit by two individuals; one identified as a member of parliament, the other described as a senior official in a French government institution.

French Member of Parliament Éric Bothorel, who belongs to French President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble Pour la République Party, has confirmed that he had submitted an inquiry to the Paris office.

X stated that Bothorel accused the platform of “manipulating its algorithm for ‘foreign interference’ purposes,” rejecting the accusation as “completely false.”

Bothorel, in a statement on July 21, defended the independence of the French judiciary.

“France is a surprising and even exotic country, for Musk,” he said on X. “Indeed, an elected official files a complaint, the justice system takes it up, and the elected official does not control the justice system. They do not replace the prosecutor or give them orders. This is the separation of powers.”

The prosecution also alleged that X’s algorithm might have been manipulated for “purposes of foreign interference,” although prosecutors have not specified what form that interference may have taken.

“X remains in the dark as to the specific allegations made against the platform,” the company said in a statement posted by its Global Government Affairs team.

The statement noted that X believes that the investigation is “distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech.”

“For these reasons, X has not acceded to the French authorities’ demands, as we have a legal right to do,” X stated.

Allegations of Bias

X stated that French authorities have requested access to its recommendation algorithm and real-time data about all user posts to enable “experts” to analyze how the platform operates.

“One of those ‘experts’ is David Chavalarias, who spearheads the ‘Escape X’ campaign,” the company stated, referring to an initiative that encourages users to leave the platform.

A second expert, Maziyar Panahi, has previously collaborated with Chavalarias on research critical of X, according to the platform.

“The involvement of these individuals raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness, and political motivations of the investigation, to put it charitably. A predetermined outcome is not a fair one,” X stated.

Panahi denied any involvement in the investigation.

“I wish to clarify that I am in no way an expert in the criminal case you are referring to and have never participated in any of the projects mentioned,” he told The Epoch Times.

“My name was cited in error, based on my previous research projects with David Chavalarias, none of which were ever hostile toward X.

“To be perfectly clear, since Twitter became X three years ago, we lost our access to research data, which led me to cease all participation in social media-related projects. For the past three years, I have been focusing exclusively on artificial intelligence and the development of open-source large language models (Medical LLMs), which are recognized by the community.”

The Epoch Times contacted Chavalarias for comment but received no response by the time of publication.