Brussels orders X to hand over documents on algorithm

Unlock Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, editor of the FT, picks her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Brussels has ordered Elon Musk to fully disclose the latest changes made to recommendations on X and step up an investigation into the social media platform’s role in European politics.

The expanded investigation by the European Commission, announced on Friday, requires X to release internal documents relating to its recommendation algorithm. The commission also issued a “withholding order” for all relevant documents relating to how the algorithm could be changed in the future.

In addition, the EU regulator requested access to information on how the social media network moderates and enhances content.

The move follows complaints from politicians in Germany that X’s algorithm is promoting far-right content ahead of the country’s February 23 election. Musk has come out in favor of the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, arguing that it will save Germany.

Asked whether the expanded investigation was a response to a controversial interview Musk conducted last week with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, a Commission spokesman said the new request helped “us monitor systems around all these events, that took place”.

However, he said it was “completely independent of political considerations or specific events”.

“We are committed to ensuring that every platform operating in the EU respects our legislation, which aims to make the online environment fair, safe and democratic for all European citizens,” said Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s digital chief.

X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This is a development story