French Prosecutors Investigate Musk’s X Over Alleged Algorithmic Bias

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French prosecutors have opened an investigation into Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) over allegations of algorithmic bias. The inquiry comes just days before the upcoming AI summit in Paris, which will be attended by prominent global leaders, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as executives from Alphabet and Microsoft.

The investigation began after a lawmaker, Eric Bothorel, raised concerns that X’s algorithms were likely distorting automated data processing systems. Bothorel wrote to the Paris prosecutor’s office on January 12, prompting the J3 cybercrime unit to launch technical checks. Bothorel also posted about the matter on X, urging further scrutiny of the platform.

X has not responded to requests for comment on the matter. The investigation underscores mounting global scrutiny of Musk’s platform, which has been criticized for potential foreign interference, particularly due to Musk’s personal support for right-wing causes in countries like Germany and the UK. X has previously been involved in legal battles over misinformation, notably being blocked in Brazil last year for not adhering to Supreme Court orders regarding the spread of false information.

Iliad to Invest €3.1 Billion in AI Infrastructure Across Europe

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French telecom company Iliad has announced plans to invest €3 billion ($3.1 billion) in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, focusing on expanding data centers and computing power across Europe. The investment will be made through its subsidiary OpCore, which manages the group’s 13 data centers. In the short term, OpCore will deploy several hundred megawatts of capacity, with an ambition to reach several gigawatts of capacity over the long term.

This move comes ahead of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, where Iliad is expected to make further announcements regarding its AI strategy. The company has also partnered with Mistral AI, a French AI firm, to offer its “le Chat pro” AI model to Iliad’s 15.5 million subscribers in France.

While Europe has been trailing the U.S. and China in AI development, with the U.S. investing through initiatives like President Donald Trump’s Stargate program, Iliad’s investment is a significant step in bolstering the region’s AI capabilities. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking on the matter, has also encouraged Europe to adopt AI and expressed openness to replicating successful U.S. programs, such as Stargate, in Europe.

Amazon Removes Diversity References from Annual Report

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Amazon has removed references to “inclusion and diversity” from its 2024 annual report, signaling a shift in its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This change follows a December memo from Amazon executive Candi Castleberry, in which she stated that the company would wind down outdated DEI initiatives by the end of 2024. The memo emphasized integrating DEI practices into existing processes rather than running separate, individual programs.

For the past two years, Amazon’s annual report had included a statement in its “human capital” section, highlighting the company’s focus on inclusion and diversity as part of its commitment to being the “Earth’s best employer.” The 2024 version of the report omits this mention entirely and also removes a reference to a goal of “promoting equity” in employee hiring and development efforts.

The removal of DEI references comes as many large corporations, including other tech giants like Meta and Alphabet, scale back similar initiatives following political pressures and challenges from conservative groups. These groups have targeted corporate diversity programs, and legal threats have emerged, urging companies to reconsider their DEI policies.

While Amazon’s website still states its commitment to diversity and inclusion, the company’s move to reduce its focus on these programs reflects broader shifts in corporate America, with some companies, such as Disney, also scaling back or adjusting their diversity-related efforts. Despite the changes, Amazon did not provide further details about potential alterations to DEI-related employee positions.