Elon Musk and his social platform X are refusing to comply with French authorities, describing the criminal probe as “politically motivated” and a threat to free speech. The move underscores growing tension between French regulation and American tech sovereignty.
The investigation was escalated in June after French MP Éric Bothorel and a senior official accused X of algorithmic manipulation and “fraudulent data extraction” tied to possible foreign interference. Prosecutors requested access to X’s recommendation algorithm and real-time user data, and raised charges under France’s organized-crime statutes—a designation that could justify wiretaps, searches, and surveillance.
X responded through its Global Government Affairs account, calling the probe a distortion of French law driven by political aims to “ultimately restrict free speech.” The company dismissed all allegations as “completely false” and declared it will not comply, citing its legal rights.
French officials claim the probe stems from legitimate concerns, not politics. They insist they’ve provided a secure channel for sharing data and emphasize the judiciary’s independence. Yet X maintains the two researchers chosen to analyze the data have exhibited hostility toward the platform, raising concerns about bias.
This conflict amplifies a broader dispute between the U.S. and Europe over digital speech norms and regulatory reach. It follows recent EU scrutiny of X under the Digital Services Act for transparency and content moderation failures. Conservatives warn that Europe’s technology regulations risk suppressing free expression, especially for center-right voices. Musk’s refusal reflects a growing stand against what many see as international encroachments on American digital values.
