Musk's X says it won't cooperate with 'politically motivated' French probe
Earlier this month, Paris prosecutors stepped up a preliminary probe into the social media platform for suspected algorithmic bias and fraudulent data extraction, authorising police to conduct searches, wiretaps and surveillance against Musk and X executives, or summon them to testify. If they do not comply, a judge could issue an arrest warrant.
"Based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech," the social network posted on its Global Government Affairs account.
"For these reasons, X has not acceded to the French authorities' demands, as we have a legal right to do."
It was not immediately clear what sort of request prosecutors had sent to X, but failure to comply with a judicial request can range from a fine to obstruction of justice charges.
The Paris prosecutors' office did not respond to a request for comment.
X said the probe had been instigated by Eric Bothorel, a French lawmaker, who had accused X of "manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes", an allegation it said was "completely false".
Bothorel, in a statement, defended the independence of the French judiciary.
"It's a concept that seems completely upended in the United States at the moment," he said, adding that France was committed to free speech but not without limits. "The absence of responsibility and oversight endangers freedom just as much as prohibitions and censorship do."
Musk, a former ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, has accused European governments of attacking free speech and has voiced support for some of the region's far-right parties.
The French probe could deepen a rift between Washington and European capitals over what sort of discourse is permitted online, with senior U.S. officials alleging the censoring of right-wing voices around the world.
The European Commission has been investigating X for breaching its digital transparency rules against illegal content, known as the Digital Services Act, since late 2023.
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X said Paris prosecutors had requested it hand over data on all user posts for analysis by researchers David Chavalarias and Maziyar Panahi, who it said had both exhibited "open hostility towards X".
Chavalarias did not respond to a request for comment. Panahi denied any involvement in the investigation.
"My name was mentioned by mistake, based on my previous research projects with David Chavalarias, none of which have ever had any hostile intent toward X," he said in an email.
"The fact my name has been mentioned in such an erroneous manner demonstrates how little regard they have for the lives of others ... I will not hesitate to pursue legal action for defamation should I receive any form of hate speech."
X did not respond to a request for comment on Panahi's statement.
X also criticised the fact that it was being investigated under organised crime charges, which could allow police to wiretap its employees' personal devices.
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Time of India
10 minutes ago
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Mint
3 hours ago
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NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
From A Fake Embassy In Ghaziabad To The Weird World Of Micronations
Delhi Police shut down an embassy this week. The Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica. Only it wasn't the Grand Duchy's embassy. It was a scam run by a man from Ghaziabad, who rented a bungalow, padded the scenery with high-end cars and photographed pictures of himself with world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to con people out of lakhs. It was a fake embassy, yes. But, amazingly, the Grand Duchy of Westarctica is not. It is a 'country', a tract of land in western Antarctica that is around 620,000 square miles large and has a 'royal head of state' - His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke Travis - a flag, currency (the Ice Mark), and over 2,500 'citizens'. Only it is not. Because no sovereign nation in the world recognises it. Confused? Welcome to the weird and entertaining world of micronations. What is a micronation? It is an aspirant state, a wedge of unclaimed land or an abandoned structure, or even a disputed field of wheat (yes, that happened), that claims sovereignty and political independence, but lacks the force majeure to enforce that demand under international law. These are not the same as microstates - such as the Vatican City and Liechtenstein - which are recognised sovereign nations despite their small size. So what's the point? Well... that's a question, isn't it? Many are created as a joke. There is the Republic of Le Saugeais, for example, a collection of 11 villages between France and Switzerland 'born' in 1947 after a joke between a hotel owner and a French official. Others may have been formed as a form of protest, however bizarre. In Florida in 1982, the Mayor of the island city of Key West declared the Conch Republic and 'seceded from the United States' to highlight the lack of development of the region. Another example is Freetown Christania in Copenhagen, an 'anarchist commune' of around 1,000 people built - intentionally - over a former military base. The main street is called Pusher and, unsurprisingly, was famous for the open but illegal trade in cannabis, right until last year. And then there are yet more. The Principality of Sealand is an offshore platform in the North Sea that was used by British military during World War II. Taken over by Paddy Roy Bates, a former soldier, Sealand is now, perhaps, the most famous micronation, and even has 'visas' for 'tourists' who want to visit. There is the Republic of Minerva - an artificial island built over disputed coral reefs lying between the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga. And there is Liberland - a seven square km parcel of forested and uninhabited land that is part of Serbia and Croatia's border argument. For the artist in you, there is the Royal Republic of Ladonia that was created in 1986 because local authorities in southern Sweden's Kullaberg said two sculptures were illegally built. Ladonia is now ruled by Her Majesty the Queen, Carolyn. But what, really, is a micronation? Anything you want it to be, really. A friendly 'how to' guide shared by the President of the Republic of Molossia in the American state of Nevada has quite a few details, including the five different kinds. A 'soverign nation' that has a formal system of government, passports and border control, and membership in an international organisation. These are usually built around physical territories. A 'ship under flag of convenience', which would be like Sealand. A third kind is created using the laws of the country in whose territory the micronation lies. The fourth and fifth are a 'model country', which is usually a website or an online presence, and establishing a 'nation' in a remote area. Liberland is an example of the latter. Now the legal (and boring) bit. A micronation is not 'real'. None has ever been accepted by an established nation. But that does not mean their creators/founders are not serious about their 'countries'. For example, in 2000 Molossia founded and hosted the 'Intermicronational Olympic Games' that coincideed with the Summer Olympics. The list of events included online games like chess and checkers (hosted unofficially on the Yahoo platform) and assorted track events. Molossia President Kevin Baugh and his son Mark were the stars, winning gold medals in the 100 metre dash and frisbee throw, and silvers in 'the tennis ball throw', chess, and checkers. We're still waiting for the next Intermicronational Olympic Games. But last year the Jewish Bolshevist Republic of Schykille, in Pennsylvania in the US, hosted a world football tournament that featured 24 teams, including Sealand. Want to start your own micronation? This sounds fun. You could, really. In the words of Mr Baugh, the President of Molossia, you could start by simply claiming land. "... it doesn't need to be solely yours. Claim land that is publicly owned, like a local park, a nature reserve, that sort of thing. Go there, plant your flag, and claim the land for your nation..." Then all you need is a flag, a national anthem, and other 'national' symbols. Congratulations. Just beware of unscrupulous men and women pretending to be your diplomatic envoys! NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
