In a significant escalation, the Paris prosecutor's office announced on Tuesday that it was withdrawing from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Not content with this symbolic move, the prosecutor's office also revealed that it had summoned the platform's owner, Elon Musk, for questioning as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the platform's practices, opening a new chapter in the confrontation between tech giants and European regulatory authorities.
Details of the French investigation and the raid on the offices
In its latest statement, directed to its LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, the prosecutor's office explained that its decision comes within the context of a serious judicial investigation. It noted a search of the platform's offices in France, carried out by the National Cybercrime Unit in cooperation with Europol.
According to French prosecutor Laure Picaud, Elon Musk and Linda Iaccarino, the platform's CEO, were summoned for questioning as the key figures responsible for X during the period in which the alleged violations occurred. The investigation stems from complaints filed by French lawmakers who denounced what they described as X's "algorithmic bias" and its negative impact on content. However, the scope of the investigation has expanded significantly to include more serious charges, such as complicity in the possession and distribution of child pornography, the dissemination of sexually explicit "deepfakes," and Holocaust denial.
Background to the clash: Musk's policies and European laws
Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as “X,” the platform has undergone radical shifts in its content moderation policies. Musk adopted an approach he calls “absolute freedom of expression,” leading to a relaxation of restrictions on certain types of content and the reinstatement of previously banned accounts. This approach has directly clashed with strict European laws, most notably the Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes clear responsibilities on major platforms to combat illegal content, hate speech, and misinformation.
Platform X responds: Accusations of politicization
For its part, X was quick to respond to the French actions. In a strongly worded statement, the platform's Intergovernmental Affairs team described the actions as "politically motivated" and a "disgraceful display of law enforcement." The statement asserted that the raid was aimed at achieving illegitimate political objectives, categorically denying all allegations against the platform and affirming its innocence.
Importance and expected effects
This case goes beyond the borders of France to shape the future relationship between major technology companies and the digital sovereignty of nations.
- At the local level: The departure of a high-ranking judicial body such as the Paris prosecutor's office from the platform represents a blow to its credibility as an official communication channel in France, and may encourage other government bodies to take similar steps.
- At the regional level, this investigation is a true test of the effectiveness and strength of the European Digital Services Act. The ruling in this case could set an important legal precedent applicable throughout the European Union.
- Internationally, the world is closely watching this clash between a European judicial authority and one of the world's leading technology giants. The case raises deeper questions about how the global digital space is regulated, and who has the authority to set and enforce the rules.
As investigations continue, the future of the “X” platform’s operations in Europe remains uncertain, amid European insistence on asserting its digital sovereignty and protecting its users from harmful and illegal content.
