Every social media app has its own secret sauce—an algorithm. For example, TikTok’s algo is so good at keeping users engaged in an endless roll that it’s worth 200 billion on paper. The X algorithm (née Twitter) has a different mission: promoting extremist content. And the European Union wants to know why. As part of an ongoing investigation from the European Commission, X has been ordered to turn over internal documents that show how the recommendation algorithm works, according to the Financial Times.
The platform run by Elon Musk will have until February 15 to disclose all the information it has about its content recommendation system, including information about any recent changes and detailed documentation on how the algorithm can be adjusted in the future. UX will also have to adhere to all the documents related to its algorithm from January 17 until the end of the year, if the Commission wants to open the hood and see how the company changes things.
The order, which is an extension of an investigation first opened in December 2023 to investigate the distribution of “illegal content” including murderous speech and hate speech on the platform, follows complaints by German lawmakers who believe that Musk is actively and purposefully promoting the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of national elections. of February.
Musk has never been subtle about his interests (Of course, he’s not secretive about anything these days). After challenging in the US Presidential elections, he decided to put his finger on the scale in Germany to see how far his influence reaches, writing on Twitter that “Only the AfD can save Germany.”
The AfD is Germany’s alt-right, the remaining cells of the Nazi cancer that once invaded the country. And although it has long been silent and powerless in the country, it managed to achieve its first victory in the federal election since 1945 late last year. It now has Musk serving as its first international developer. Earlier this month, he hosted X Space with party leader Alice Weidel and allowed her to rehash her party and German history without backing down, including accusing Adolph Hitler of being a Communist (which, no).
We will see if all this pressure he is putting on the political process makes him win in Germany next month – but there is evidence that he does not read this room well. There has already been a significant amount of opposition to Musk among NGOs and corporations, which left X in response to his AfD candidacy. He also angered the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, the country’s most conservative party, meaning he is unlikely to find allies if his anti-Nazi campaign fails.
All that trouble will get Musk only one thing: his company is put under the microscope. Assuming X goes along with the EU’s request, he’ll pull out a panel on Musk’s racist machine and see how the gears are turning—including how much he’s amplifying his posts in an effort to control the narrative on the platform.