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Brussels has ordered Elon Musk to fully disclose recent changes to X recommendations, stepping up an investigation into the social media platform’s role in European politics.
The European Commission’s expanded investigation, announced on Friday, requires X submit internal documents related to its recommendation algorithm. The commission also issued a “hold order” for all relevant documents related to how the algorithm could be modified in the future.
In addition, the EU regulator has requested access to information on how the social media network moderates and enhances content.
The move follows complaints from German politicians that X’s algorithm is promoting far-right content ahead of the country’s Feb. 23 election. Musk came forward in favor of the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, claiming that it would save Germany.
Asked if the expanded investigation was a response to Musk’s controversial interview with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel last week, a Commission spokesman said the new request helped us “monitor the systems around all these events that are unfolding.”
However, he said it was “completely independent of any political considerations or any 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, secure and democratic for all European citizens,” said Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s head of digital.
X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story
