The United States has sharply criticized the French government’s criminal investigation into X (formerly known as Twitter), calling it an act of “foreign censorship.” The statement was issued by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor under the U.S. State Department, and was posted directly on the platform X. “As part of a criminal investigation, an activist French prosecutor is requesting information on X’s proprietary algorithm and has classified X as an ‘organized crime group’,” the bureau stated.
The message also stressed that democratic countries must protect all forms of speech, even unpopular ones: “Democratic governments should allow all voices to be heard, not silence speech they dislike. The United States will defend the free speech of all Americans against acts of foreign censorship.”
What Is France Investigating?
According to France 24, cybercrime prosecutors in Paris launched a formal police investigation on July 11. The case revolves around alleged offenses including:
-
Data extraction and manipulation
-
Use of automated systems in a coordinated manner
-
Activities being conducted “as part of a criminal gang”
The investigators have reportedly requested access to X’s real-time data and its recommendation algorithm, which powers content visibility on the platform.
X Pushes Back: “Politically Motivated”
X has denied all accusations and refused to hand over the requested data. The company said the probe was politically influenced, X said it “categorically denies” all the allegations and called the investigation “politically motivated.” It added the case “is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech.”
Complaints Behind the Investigation
The investigation stems from two complaints filed in January. One was submitted by Eric Bothorel, a Member of Parliament from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party. Bothorel claimed that the platform, under Musk’s leadership, has reduced diversity of opinions and cited concerns over Musk’s personal involvement in the platform’s decision-making. Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate,” said Bothorel, as quoted by France 24.
Background: Musk and Politics in Europe
The article also noted that Elon Musk, who leads Tesla and SpaceX alongside X, has drawn political attention in Europe recently. He has publicly expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, especially in the run-up to Germany’s legislative elections in February a move that sparked further debate over his influence on online discourse and democratic norms.
The case highlights growing tensions between national governments and global tech giants over content moderation, data transparency, and platform influence on politics. It also raises deeper concerns about how far countries can go in regulating digital platforms and what role the U.S. will play in defending its tech companies abroad.
