French prosecutors raid X’s Paris office in algorithm investigation

French authorities have carried out searches at the Paris office of social media platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, BFMTV reports.

The operation is part of an investigation launched in January 2025 following a referral from lawmaker Éric Bothorel. The case focuses on the platform’s algorithmic operations.

The searches were conducted by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office, with support from Europol specialists.

X is already under increased scrutiny from European regulators. In January, complaints were filed with the European Commission alleging manipulation of recommendation algorithms. Since December 2023, Brussels has been investigating potential violations of the Digital Services Act, particularly in relation to the fight against disinformation.

In the summer of 2025, X rejected accusations from French authorities, describing the investigation as “politically motivated.” The outcome of the broader European probe is expected in the coming weeks.