PARIS: Elon Musk’s X on Monday accused French prosecutors of launching a “politically-motivated criminal investigation” that threatens its users’ free speech, denying all allegations against it and saying it would not cooperate with the probe.

Earlier this month, Paris prosecutors stepped up a preliminary probe into the social media platform for suspected algorithmic bias and fraudulent data extraction, authorising police to conduct searches, wiretaps and surveillance against Musk and X executives, or summon them to testify. If they do not comply, a judge could issue an arrest warrant.

“Based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech,” the social network said.

“For these reasons, X has not acceded to the French authorities’ demands, as we have a legal right to do.” It was not immediately clear what sort of request prosecutors had sent to X, but failure to comply with a judicial request can range from a fine to obstruction of justice charges.

X said the probe had been instigated by Eric Bothorel, a French lawmaker, who had accused X of “manipulating its algorithm for ‘foreign interference’ purposes”, an allegation it said was “completely false”.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2025