The U.S. Justice Department has declined to assist French law enforcement in their investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. This decision follows a letter from the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs, dated Friday, amid an ongoing inquiry into the platform’s practices.
In February, Paris prosecutors executed a raid on X’s offices in France and summoned Musk for questioning. The investigation, which has been ongoing for over a year, is focused on allegations of algorithm abuse and improper data extraction by X and its executives. The French authorities are examining whether X’s algorithms have manipulated content on the platform and if user data has been misappropriated, following complaints lodged by French lawmakers and advocacy groups.
The DOJ’s letter expressed concern that the investigation represents an attempt to use the French legal system to impose regulations on the platform, which they claim run counter to the First Amendment rights protected in the United States. The letter described the French requests for U.S. assistance as an effort to involve the U.S. in a politically motivated prosecution that aims to enforce regulations on digital platforms through criminal charges.
In response to the DOJ’s position, an official from xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, expressed gratitude for the decision, insisting that the investigation lacks merit and urging French prosecutors to reconsider their approach. They maintained that there is no wrongdoing on the part of X or its executives.
The scrutiny of X and Musk by global regulators is not new. Authorities in multiple countries have raised concerns over issues related to content moderation, data management, and compliance with local regulations since Musk’s acquisition of the platform.
As of now, neither the U.S. Department of Justice, French authorities, nor xAI have responded to requests for comment on this situation.
