logo
Musk's X calls French foreign interference probe 'politically motivated'

Musk's X calls French foreign interference probe 'politically motivated'

Straits Times5 days ago
Find out what's new on ST website and app.
X also complained of bias in French authorities' choice of experts to examine its algorithm.
Paris - A French probe into alleged foreign interference and bias via the algorithm at Elon Musk-owned social network X is 'politically motivated', the company said in a post on July 21, adding that it was refusing to cooperate.
'X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech,' the social network said.
It added that it 'has not acceded to the French authorities' demands' to access its recommendation algorithm and real-time data, 'as we have a legal right to do'.
Cybercrime prosecutors announced the opening of the probe on July 11 into suspected crimes including manipulating and extracting data from automated systems 'as part of a criminal gang'.
The move followed two complaints received in January about 'foreign interference' in French politics via X – one of them from Mr Eric Bothorel, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party.
Mr Bothorel had complained of 'reduced diversity of voices and options' and Mr Musk's 'personal interventions' on the network since his 2022 takeover of the former Twitter.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief has raised hackles in Europe with political sallies, including vocal backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of February legislative elections.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes into college campus
Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH
Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF
Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region
Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026
Singapore Fine, driving ban for bus driver who hit lorry in BKE crash, causing fractures to passenger
Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip
Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety
'Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate,' Mr Bothorel said after the investigation was announced.
The company responded on July 21 saying, 'Mr Bothorel has accused X of manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes, an allegation which is completely false.'
Prosecutors have not confirmed whether they are also investigating under a French law against foreign interference in politics passed in 2024.
X also complained of bias in French authorities' choice of experts to examine its algorithm, including mathematician David Chavalarias and computer scientist Maziyar Panahi.
Both have been involved in a scheme called 'HelloQuitteX', designed to make it easier for users to migrate their X presence to other social networks.
Picking them 'raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness and political motivations of the investigation', the company said.
It also objected to the use of the 'organised gang' aggravating circumstance.
The characterisation 'is usually reserved for drug cartels or mafia groups' and 'enables the French police to deploy extensive investigative powers... including wiretapping the personal devices of X employees,' the company said. AFP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Nasa says it will lose about 20% of its workforce
Nasa says it will lose about 20% of its workforce

Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • Straits Times

Nasa says it will lose about 20% of its workforce

Find out what's new on ST website and app. Nasa will lose about 3,900 employees as US President Donald Trump aims to trim the federal workforce. WASHINGTON - The US space agency Nasa will lose about 3,900 employees under Mr Donald Trump's sweeping effort to trim the federal workforce – at the same time as the president prioritises plans for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. In an emailed statement, Nasa said around 3,000 employees took part in the second round of its deferred resignation programme, which closed late on July 25. Combined with the 870 who joined the first round and regular staff departures, the agency's civil servant workforce is set to drop from more than 18,000 before Mr Trump took office in January to roughly 14,000 – a more than 20 per cent decrease. Those leaving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the deferred resignation programme will be placed on administrative leave until an agreed departure date. An agency spokesperson said the figures could shift slightly in the coming weeks. 'Safety remains a top priority for our agency as we balance the need to become a more streamlined and more efficient organisation and work to ensure we remain fully capable of pursuing a Golden Era of exploration and innovation, including to the Moon and Mars,' the agency said. Earlier this year, the Trump administration's proposed Nasa budget put a return to the Moon and a journey to Mars front and centre, slashing science and climate programmes. The White House says it wants to focus on 'beating China back to the Moon and putting the first human on Mars'. China is aiming for its first crewed lunar landing by 2030, while the US programme, called Artemis, has faced repeated delays.

HSA will not trace vape users who throw away e-vaporisers in disposable bins at 23 CCs
HSA will not trace vape users who throw away e-vaporisers in disposable bins at 23 CCs

Straits Times

time2 hours ago

  • Straits Times

HSA will not trace vape users who throw away e-vaporisers in disposable bins at 23 CCs

Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE - Those who throw their vapes into designated disposal bins installed around Singapore can be assured their identities will not be traced, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on July 26. HSA said this in response to The Straits Times' queries about the 'Bin the Vape' initiative, regarding concerns about possible repercussions if vape users surrendered their devices. Launched by HSA, the Ministry of Health and the People's Association (PA) on July 25, bins were placed at 23 community clubs (CCs) and one residents' network centre around the island. Possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000, but the authorities said during the launch that no action will be taken against those who voluntarily dispose of their vapes. On July 26, HSA said: 'We would like to assure members of the public that the Health Sciences Authority will not be tracing the identities of any persons who had binned the e-vaporisers. 'We strongly encourage the public to dispose of their e-vaporisers, if any, using these disposal bins as they offer a confidential, secure and responsible disposal method.' The red bin resembles a normal trash bin – but with posters of the initiative plastered on its front and top, promising a safe and confidential disposal of vapes. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar A CCTV camera aimed at the bin deters theft of the disposed vapes and tampering, but had sparked concerns among some about being watched or identified. Privacy issues involving the use of data came up during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, regarding data collected by contact tracing app and token TraceTogether. The authorities had originally said there was no intention to use TraceTogether data as a means of picking up breaches of existing rules, but later said it could be used for criminal investigations. This was because the Singapore Police Force is empowered under the Criminal Procedure Code to obtain any data, including TraceTogether data, for criminal investigations. HSA also addressed concerns about theft and tampering of the vape disposal bins. It said they are locked and secured to fixtures such as pillars. Once the vapes are dropped inside the bins, they will not be retrievable. Cases of tampering or theft will be referred to the police. HSA said vapes may contain illicit substances like etomidate or controlled drugs and should be disposed of properly in the bins. HSA added: 'These designated bins ensure these items are properly contained and destroyed, preventing them from being retrieved and potentially misused.' It added these bins will be emptied regularly, and the disposed vapes will be sent to the incineration plants for proper destruction under close supervision. The 'Bin the Vape' initiative is meant to encourage vape users to quit before the law catches up with them. The authorities noted that etomidate, a listed poison increasingly found in vapes here , will be classified as a Class C illegal drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the coming weeks. On July 25, the authorities reminded vape users and those consuming etomidate to give up their habit immediately. Members of the public can visit to locate the nearest bin. HSA said the locations are not a reflection of rates of vape usage around Singapore, but were decided based on available and convenient locations island-wide and in consultation with the PA. The bins will be progressively placed in other locations, such as at institutes of higher learning. Since July 21, HSA has extended the operating hours for its Tobacco Regulation Branch hotline on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 to report vaping-related offences. The hotline operates from 9am to 9pm daily, including on public holidays. HSA has also launched a new online portal to report vaping-related offences at

Driver escapes with minor injuries after car plunges off ferry in Switzerland
Driver escapes with minor injuries after car plunges off ferry in Switzerland

Straits Times

time2 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Driver escapes with minor injuries after car plunges off ferry in Switzerland

Find out what's new on ST website and app. A 50-year-old man drove too far onto a Lake Zurich ferry and tipped his car over the bow of the ferry into the lake. ZURICH - A car plunged off a ferry into Lake Zurich on July 26, Swiss police said, with the driver able to escape with only minor injuries. The incident happened in Horgen, south of Switzerland's biggest city Zurich, shortly before 7am (1pm in Singapore), with the car going straight through and overshooting the end of the boat. A 50-year-old man drove his car onto the ferry and 'for reasons still unknown, he drove too far and tipped his vehicle over the bow of the ferry into Lake Zurich', a police statement said. 'The injured man was able to exit the vehicle by his own efforts and was rescued and brought to shore,' Zurich Cantonal Police said. There he received initial medical treatment before being taken to hospital for further assessment. Police said he sustained only minor injuries. The car was later recovered from a depth of around 30 metres, the statement said. Police and public prosecutors have opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident. AFP Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store