As part of the ongoing investigation into X, the European Commission has linked the company to its operations. The regulatory arm of the European Union is particularly interested in any recent changes to the algorithm. The EC said it has asked X to provide information by February 15 as it will advance the Digital Services Act (DSA) investigation.
In addition, the administrators requested access to certain APIs provided by X in order to be able to “find the exact truth about the moderation of the content and the amount of the account.” The Commission also slapped X with a custody order. This requires the company to preserve internal documents related to future changes to the algorithm until the end of 2025 (or sooner if the investigation is closed before then).
“Today, we are taking further steps to clarify compliance with the X recommendations and obligations under the DSA,” Henna Virkkunen – the Commission’s senior vice president for sovereignty, security and democracy – said in a statement on Friday. “We are committed to ensuring that every platform operating in the EU respects our law, which aims to make the online environment fairer, safer, and more democratic for all European citizens.”
The EC in December 2023 will look into potential violations of the DSA. Companies deemed to have violated the law face fines of up to six percent of annual revenue worldwide.
Thierry Breton, the former European commissioner for the internal market, said the bloc is looking into whether X has failed to fulfill its obligations regarding transparency and tackling illegal content. Potentially deceptive 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 UK, and the far-right party in Germany ahead of elections in February. As notes, some European politicians say Musk is meddling in the election. He condemned the criticism as an attack on freedom of speech and democracy.
To that end, the Commission looks at whether X’s algorithms prevent certain ideas while promoting a single narrative. However, he said Musk is free to speak as he wishes.