On Friday, July 25, U.S. officials sharply condemned France’s criminal investigation into the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, labeling it an attack on free speech and an act of foreign censorship.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor issued a statement denouncing the probe, stating:
“As part of a criminal investigation, an activist French prosecutor is demanding access to X’s proprietary algorithm and has classified X as an ‘organized crime group.’ Democratic governments should protect all voices, not silence speech they dislike. The United States will defend the free speech rights of all Americans against foreign censorship.”
The French cybercrime prosecutors launched their investigation on July 11, focusing on allegations of foreign interference in French politics. The inquiry targets suspicions that X’s algorithm was used to manipulate political discourse and extract data from automated systems. Prosecutors described these actions as coordinated by an “organized criminal gang.”
The investigation follows two complaints filed in January, including one from French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s party. Bothorel accused the platform of “reduced diversity of voices and options” since Musk’s acquisition and alleged direct interference by Musk in X’s operations.
In response, X dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated,” stating that it refused a prosecutor’s request for access to its recommendation algorithm and real-time data. The company “categorically denies” all charges, accusing French authorities of “distorting French law to serve a political agenda and ultimately restrict free speech.”
Bothorel defended the probe, emphasizing the fragility of democracy. “Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for, or even who to hate,” he said.
Elon Musk, who also leads Tesla and SpaceX, has faced criticism over his involvement in European political debates, including his vocal support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of this year’s elections.
