The European Commission extends the investigation against Elon Musk’s X

The announced new technical measures in the investigation against his social network “X”, considered suspected of spreading false news and manipulation on the old continent. “Today (17/01/2025), we are taking new measures to verify the compliance of X’s recommendations systems with the Digital Services Act (DSA),” European Commissioner for Technology Sovereignty Henna Virkunen announced, with the European Commission’s investigation intensified following the challenges of Elon Musk. CORVERSE Brussels accepts the pressure of MEPs and Member States to take strict measures while there is suspicion that the owner of X is manipulating algorithms to support the far right in Europe. As the late February election approaches Germany. Elon Musk does not miss an opportunity to express his support for the far-right party of the Alternative for Germany (AfD). But the new measures are independent of its position in the sphere of freedom of expression, according to the European Union. The Commission today asked the X to deliver by 15 February internal documents on the recommendations systems and any recent amendments to them. CORVERSE In addition, it announced a maintenance order requiring the platform to maintain internal documents and information concerning future changes in the conception and operation of the recommendation algorithms for the period from 17 January 2025 to 31 December 2025, unless the Commission’s investigation is completed before that date. Finally, the Commission has requested access to certain commercial APIs (implementing interfaces) of X, technical interfaces (interfaces) that allow direct access to the contents to confirm the control of content and virality (reduction) of accounts. ‘These measures will enable the Commission services to take into account all relevant facts in the complex assessment of systemic risks’ of the platform and the way in which it mitigates them, the Commission explains in its communication. Since the start of the X investigation, no formal accusations have been announced regarding suspicions of manipulation of algorithms that make the messages of Ilon Musk and the extreme right more visible. “We are determined to impose on all platforms operating in the EU respect for our legislation, which aims to restore an equal, safe and democratic online environment for all European citizens,” Henna Virkunen points out in the communication.