X tells the French police 'non' to its request for algorithmic data

The site formerly known as Twitter has said it will not hand over any information to French police over an investigation into its recommendation algorithms. Earlier this month, French police announced [PDF] they were investigating X after a member of the nation's parliament and a top official claimed that the social media …

[beast666]

Given the paranoia in an earlier Reg story about some liberal deleting all their social media accounts in an attempt to hide their embarrassments from the immigration officers, we are going to applaud X for refusing to hand over data to the French dibble. Non?

[Naich]

They want data about the algorithm, not about users. You either knew that and are being deceptive, or you are so dumb you are incapable of understanding the article.

[Anonymous Coward]

Both?

[DrewPH]

Obligatory Reduced Shakespeare Company song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D885N2OMcA

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Obligatory Reduced Shakespeare Company song

I hadn't encountered that RSC. Worth further investigation. :))

A less obligatory reference in a similar vein:

"A treed cat, a man in love, and the French. God help the fool who tries to rescue any one of them.^†"

_{† Albert Campion's Grandfather in Margery Allingham's "The Beckoning Lady"}

[Winkypop]

Mecha Hitler says…

Hold my beret.

[abend0c4]

Politically-motivated criminal investigations

Can someone set up a tracker - like the one that used to follow his private jet - to report on Elon's present location on the political spectrum? I have the distinct impression that a couple of months back he was best buddies with a guy who seems quite fond of them.

[Anonymous Coward]

report on Elon's present location on the political spectrum?

Not entirely sure the "politcal" is required.

I suspect Space Karen's neuropharmacologically augmented mental processes are pretty "delocalized" over space and time a bit like a combined case of projectile vomiting and dysentery.

A witch hunt ? Wicca is probably the only fringe following he hasn't yet embraced but give him time. When he first feels the prick of the Reaper's scythe he might go full Aleister Crowley. ;)

[blu3b3rry]

Re: report on Elon's present location on the political spectrum?

I imagine it also depends on his dosage of Special K in any given morning.

[cuna]

The solution is simple

If Twitter’s algorithm is not publicly disclosed, and the French government possesses reasonable evidence suggesting that it is being manipulated for harmful or deceptive purposes, then the solution is straightforward: ban the platform on the grounds that it poses a threat to national security.

[Brave Coward]

Re: The solution is simple

... or force it to be sold to a French company. For 1 €, which should be a fair price for what it's worth.

[Uplink]

Something to hide

What was that statement? Ah, yes: "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about".

[HuBo]

Algortihms shmalgorithms

Interesting how the bigger ones of the top 20 social platforms (55% US, 40% China, 5% UAE) are all developing and integrating AI into those networks (Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, ByteDance, Tencent, xAI). The existential risks from that look huge ... for example if X becomes the tentacular projection of xAI's MechaHitler (following orders from its deranged master).

More power to the French for investigating that, imho! (chapeau!)