As part of an ongoing investigation into X, the European Commission has of the company regarding its operation. The European Union regulator is particularly interested in any recent changes to the algorithm. The EC said it had asked X to provide the information by February 15, as part of the intensified investigation into the Digital Services Act (DSA).
On top of that, regulators requested access to certain APIs provided by X so they could conduct “a direct investigation into content moderation and account virality.” The Commission also imposed a detention order on X. This requires the company to retain internal documents related to future algorithm changes until the end of 2025 (or earlier if the investigation ends before then).
“Today we are taking further steps to shed light on whether X’s recommender systems comply with DSA obligations,” said Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the Commission for Sovereignty, Security and democracy, in a press release Friday. “We are committed to ensuring that every platform operating in the EU complies with our legislation, which aims to make the online environment fair, safe and democratic for all European citizens. »
The EC in December 2023 to review potential violations of the DSA. Companies found to have broken the law face fines of up to six percent of their annual global turnover.
Thierry Breton, a former EU internal market commissioner, said the bloc was investigating whether X had failed to meet its obligations on transparency and tackling illegal content. Possible misleading design practices are also under the Commission’s microscope.
Regulators stepped up their investigation after X owner Elon Musk publicly supported the Reform Party in the United Kingdom, as well as the far-right Alternative for Germany party, ahead of February’s election. As note, some European politicians have claimed that Musk is interfering in the election. He called the criticism attacks on free speech and democracy.
To this end, the Commission examines whether X’s algorithms ban certain perspectives while amplifying a single narrative. However, it is made clear that Musk is free to speak as he wishes.
