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Brussels has ordered Elon Musk to fully disclose recent changes to X recommendations, stepping up investigations into the role of social media platforms in European politics.
The European Commission announced an expanded investigation on Friday, requiring X to hand over internal documents about its recommendation algorithm. The committee also issued a “hold order” on all relevant documents related to how the algorithm will be modified in the future.
In addition, EU regulators are demanding information on how social media networks moderate and amplify content.
The move comes after German politicians complained that X’s algorithm was promoting far-right content ahead of the country’s February 23 elections. Musk openly supports the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, believing it will save Germany.
Asked whether the expanded investigation was in response to a controversial interview Musk gave last week with Alternative for Germany co-leader Alice Weidel, a commission spokesman said the new request “helps us monitor The system of all these events that are happening.”
However, he said this was “completely independent of any political considerations or any specific incident”.
“We are committed to ensuring that every platform operating in the EU respects our legislation, which aims to create a fair, safe and democratic online environment for all European citizens,” said European Commission Digital Director Henna Virkkunen.
X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a development story
