Elon Musk Targeted By An Explosive Investigation In France Regarding The Excesses Of X

The shadow of Elon Musk looms once again over Europe. The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal investigation targeting the platform X, suspected of algorithmic manipulation for the purpose of foreign interference. This case, at the crossroads of cybercrime, European justice, and geopolitical tensions, could mark a new escalation in the trade war between the United States and the European Union.

The French justice suspects X of organized digital misconduct

The Paris prosecutor’s office has officially opened a criminal investigation targeting the platform X, with an immediate transmission of the case to the Directorate General of the National Gendarmerie. This decision follows two reports filed on January 12 with the specialized cybercrime division.

The first comes from MP Éric Bothorel, a member of the presidential party Ensemble pour la République.

In a statement published on X, he claims to be “convinced that an extreme informational bias on the platform X was used to serve Elon Musk’s political views and that this could only happen through algorithmic manipulation“.

The second report comes from a senior government official, whose identity remains confidential.

The investigation focuses on two charges: alteration of the operation of an automated data processing system and fraudulent data extraction, within a context qualified as an “organized group.”

According to prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the investigations aim to establish whether X knowingly violated French law by manipulating its algorithms for interference or influence purposes.

The case has been entrusted to the J3 unit, the elite cybercrime team. This same team had already made a mark in 2024 with the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in a similar case.

This new investigation adds to the procedures already underway, including one for complicity in aggravated moral harassment following Magali Berdah’s complaint in April 2023.

Europe tightens the noose around X

Since its acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022, Twitter – now X – has repeatedly clashed with European authorities.

The investigation opened by the French justice system fits into a broader dynamic driven by the European Union, determined to regulate the major digital platforms.

In February, two German NGOs won a major legal battle: the Berlin regional court ordered X to grant access to its engagement data to allow researchers to investigate possible electoral manipulations.

Simultaneously, the European Commission opened an investigation for alleged non-compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), the new European regulation on digital services.

This law imposes strict obligations on major platforms: rapid removal of illegal content, transparency on algorithm functioning, and increased cooperation with authorities. In case of non-compliance, sanctions can reach up to 6% of global turnover.

This regulatory pressure comes at the worst time for Elon Musk, who aims to make X a “financial all-in-one”: a social network, a banking platform, and a global crypto hub.

But without approval from European regulators, these projects risk remaining unfulfilled. Institutional trust is essential to operate in the financial sector in Europe.

This situation is part of rising trade tensions between Europe and the United States. The investigation into X, a platform owned by one of the most influential American entrepreneurs, could thus add to transatlantic points of friction and fuel debates on the regulation of American tech giants in Europe.