France has opened a criminal investigation into X for suspected algorithm manipulation and unauthorized user data extraction. On July 12, French Magistrate Laure Beccuau confirmed that the Public Prosecutor’s Office received two reports on Jan. 12 that led to the probe.
One report came from Éric Bothorel, a French MP from President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble Pour La République party. The other was submitted by a senior government official, whose name was not released.
Bothorel published a post on X explaining his concerns. He said,
“An informational bias, extreme on the X platform, was being used to serve Elon Musk’s political opinions and that this could only happen through algorithmic manipulation.”
He added that he welcomed the French legal system’s decision to take action against foreign interference.
The investigation now falls under the authority of the General Directorate of the National Gendarmerie, with the J3 cybercrime unit in charge.
J3 Cybercrime Unit to Lead France Cybercrime Probe Into X
The J3 cybercrime unit, known for its previous investigation that led to the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in 2024, will manage the new probe. The case targets two possible criminal offenses involving automated systems.
First, the authorities will investigate whether an organized group tampered with an automated data processing system. Second, they will examine whether an organized group extracted user data fraudulently from the same type of system.
Both offenses fall under French cybercrime laws. If proven, these could carry serious legal consequences under national legislation. Investigators will likely look into the algorithm’s structure, changes made to it, and whether those changes were used to influence public opinion or access user data without permission.
No individuals have been publicly identified as targets of the investigation. So far, X and Elon Musk have not issued any public response.
Algorithm Manipulation and Data Concerns Draw EU Attention
This is not the first time X, under Elon Musk’s ownership, has faced scrutiny in Europe. Since his acquisition in 2022, the platform has been involved in multiple regulatory cases.
In February 2025, two German NGOs won a court case at the Berlin Regional Court. The ruling forced X to provide access to engagement data. The goal was to allow researchers to detect any foreign interference ahead of elections.
The European Union is also investigating X under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This regulation requires platforms to take down illegal content, disclose how algorithms operate, and make data accessible for audits. The DSA can impose heavy penalties on violators, including fines of up to 6% of global turnover.
The ongoing France cybercrime probe adds to existing pressure. With Musk aiming to expand X into a platform for financial services and cryptocurrency, any legal issues in Europe may slow down or block future services. However, no official restrictions have been placed yet.