Paris: In a significant development, France is probing allegations that social media network X skewed its algorithm to allow "foreign interference".

French police will investigate the actions of Elon Musk’s company and its senior executives following complaints filed in January, prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on Friday.

The two complaints reported "the supposed use of the X algorithm for purposes of foreign interference", her office said, without elaborating or mentioning the name of Musk.

The first complaint was filed by a centrist member of parliament Eric Bothorel, who has looked into cybersecurity. He warned against "recent changes to the X algorithm, as well as apparent interferences in its management since Elon Musk acquired" the company in 2022.

He highlighted a "reduction in the diversity of voices and options" that went against guaranteeing a secure, respectful environment on the social media platform.

He pointed to "a lack of clarity in criteria that led to algorithm changes and moderation decisions", and to "personal interventions from Elon Musk in the management of his platform".

All this presented a "real danger and a threat for our democracies", he said.

French investigative weekly Le Canard Enchaine in February reported that the second complaint had come from a cybersecurity director in public office.

He reported a "major modification in the algorithm used by the X platform, which today offers a huge amount of political content that is hateful, racist, anti-LGBTQ (or) homophobic, and aims to skew democratic debate in France", it said.

The prosecutor said Friday that the investigation had been opened after "verifications and contributions by French researchers" and further "elements contributed by different political institutions".