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Brussels has ordered Elon Musk to fully explain the recent changes made to the recommendations on X, to increase the investigation about the role of the social media platform in European politics.
An expanded investigation by the European Commission, announced on Friday, seeks X providing internal documentation about the recommendation algorithm. The Commission also issued a “preservation order” on all relevant documents related to how the algorithm may be modified in the future.
In addition, the EU regulator requested access to information on how social media networks moderate and promote content.
The move follows political complaints in Germany that the X algorithm is promoting far-right content ahead of the country's February 23 election. Musk He has come out in support of the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which he says will save Germany.
When asked if the increased investigation was a response to Musk's controversial interview last week with AfD leader Alice Weidel, a Commission spokesman said the new request helped to “monitor the procedures in all these incidents”.
However, he said it is “completely independent of political ideas or any specific events”.
“We are committed to ensuring that every platform that operates in the EU respects our rules, which aim to make the internet fair, secure, and democratic for all European citizens,” said Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's head of digital.
UX did not immediately respond to his request.
This is a growing story