The European Commission (EC) has intensified its investigation into social media platform X, requesting documents detailing how its recommendation algorithms function. As part of the ongoing probe under the Digital Services Act (DSA), regulators are particularly interested in understanding any recent changes to X’s algorithm. The company has been given until February 15 to provide the requested information.

Document Request and API Access
In addition to the documents, the EC has asked for access to certain APIs that X provides. This will allow regulators to conduct “direct fact-finding” on X’s content moderation practices and the virality of accounts on the platform. To ensure X complies with the investigation, the Commission has issued a retention order, requiring the company to preserve internal documents related to potential algorithm changes through 2025 or until the investigation concludes.

Henna Virkkunen, the EC’s executive vice-president for sovereignty, security, and democracy, stated, “We are committed to ensuring that every platform operating in the EU respects our legislation, which aims to make the online environment fair, safe, and democratic for all European citizens.”

Potential DSA Violations and Risks
The investigation, launched in December 2023, seeks to determine whether X has violated the Digital Services Act by failing to meet transparency obligations and adequately tackling illegal content. The EC is also scrutinizing possible deceptive design practices and whether X’s algorithms prioritize or suppress certain perspectives. Companies found in breach of the DSA face substantial penalties, including fines of up to six percent of their global annual revenue.

This intensified scrutiny comes after Elon Musk, the owner of X, publicly supported political parties in Europe, including the UK’s Reform Party and Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD). The EC has raised concerns over whether X’s algorithm may contribute to the shadowbanning of certain viewpoints, potentially influencing political narratives. However, the Commission emphasized that Musk is free to express his opinions.

For more details, read the full article on Engadget here.