Social Media

X Says French Accusations of Data Tampering and Fraud are Politically Motivated

Claims involve an automated data processing system, but details remain unclear

Associated Press

Jul 21, 2025 — 2 min read

Photo of the opening page of X displayed on a computer and phone, Oct. 16, 2023, by Rick Rycroft/AP

PARIS, July 21, 2025 (AP) — Elon Musk's social media platform X on Monday denied accusations from French prosecutors of alleged data tampering and fraud, calling them politically motivated.

X was responding to an announcement earlier this month from the Paris prosecutor’s office, which said it was opening an investigation into the two alleged offenses.

Both offenses involved an "automated data processing system," according to prosecutors, who provided scant details of the alleged wrongdoing. They are potentially punishable in France with a jail term of up to 10 years.

The platform said French authorities were carrying out a "politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged ‘fraudulent data extraction’.”