French authorities have launched a criminal investigation into X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, over allegations that its algorithm was manipulated for purposes of "foreign interference."
The probe, announced by Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau on July 11, will examine whether the platform violated French law by altering its algorithmic systems and illicitly extracting user data.
The case originated following official complaints filed by a French lawmaker and an unnamed senior civil servant. According to Beccuau, the investigation builds on a separate inquiry initiated in January after allegations that X facilitated the spread of racist, homophobic, and anti-LGBTQ+ political content intended to distort democratic discourse in France.
One of the richest and most high-profile entrepreneurs of the modern age, Elon Musk has become an increasingly controversial figure. Since his 2022 takeover of X, the billionaire has faced intense public scrutiny. Millions of users got a front-row seat to his every move, from laying off thousands of employees to unsuspending accounts that spread misinformation and hate speech. Later, his involvement with the US government garnered immense criticism, especially after the cost-cutting drives across various departments. And these days, after a lot of back and forth, he's not in the Trump administration's good graces.
Click through the following gallery to learn more about Musk's journey from business to politics, and why it’s been causing such a stir lately.