Kenneth Cheung
X said on Monday it will not cooperate in a French probe that is accusing the social media platform of manipulating algorithms to allow foreign interference and enable fraudulent data extraction.
The Elon Musk-owned platform called the investigation “politically motivated” and has strongly denied the allegations brought by French politician Eric Bothorel.
The company said that the French authorities have appointed certain individuals as “experts” for the investigation who previously have been engaged in online campaigns that encourage users to quit the platform.
“The involvement of these individuals raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness, and political motivations of the investigation, to put it charitably,” X’s global government affairs team said in a post. “A predetermined outcome is not a fair one.”
X also said the French authorities have labeled the company as an “organized gang” for the purpose of the investigation, giving them the ability to wiretap employees of the company.
“X believes that this 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,” the company said.