From investigation into X’s “biased algorithms” in France to RSF raising concern over PECA amendments in Pakistan, here’s everything we covered at Digital Rights Monitor (DRM) this week.
Read our weekly news roundup.
FRANCE: X investigated over ‘biased algorithms’
Billionaire Elon Musk’s X has come under the scrutiny of prosecutors in France over possible algorithmic bias, according to reports.
The development came on Friday after the Paris prosecutor’s office announced it had launched a probe into X.
According to the prosecutor, on January 12, they were approached by a lawmaker who raised concerns that X might have disrupted the functioning of an automated data processing system, saying the platform was using “biased algorithms”.
“Prosecutors and specialised assistants from the cybercrime unit are analysing it and carrying out initial technical checks,” the Paris public prosecutor’s office stated in an email received by Reuters.
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GERMANY: Activists win X data access lawsuit
X must give researchers access to data required to monitor disinformation in the lead-up to the general elections scheduled for February 23, a German court has ruled.
The ruling by the Berlin Regional Court, which arrived on Friday, is a major win for activists, given billionaire Elon Musk’s radical changes at the popular social media platform.
The ruling favours the Civil Liberties Association (GFF) and Democracy Reporting International (DRI), both of which had filed an urgent appeal against X last week.
“This decision is a major win for research freedom and our democracy,” said a lawyer for the GFF. “By securing access to key research data, we can counter attempts to influence elections and send a strong signal for protecting fundamental rights in the digital age.”
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PAKISTAN: MMfD announces ‘Tech for Journalists’ training
Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD) has announced the relaunch of its “Tech for Journalists” training, according to an official X post.
MMfD, which is a digital rights and media literacy nonprofit based in Islamabad, Pakistan, announced the training sessions on Tuesday. The sessions are aimed at journalists looking to build their capacity in the areas of technology related to journalism.
The training will focus on various important topics, specifically virtual private networks (VPNs), encryption, and secure browsing, according to the post. It will facilitate journalists in navigating the digital landscape, enabling them to “enhance their technological skills and knowledge”.
The sessions will be held online from February 13 to February 15, 2025. The duration of each session is two hours and participants have the option to choose from two different dates.
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PECA amendments stifle press freedom, reinforce censorship, says RSF
The recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, or PECA, stifle press freedom and reinforce censorship, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has said.
The amendments, which were approved last month, ignited a storm within the media and advocacy circles, with journalists and activists taking to the streets to protest against what they called “oppressive” changes.
Since its enactment in 2016, PECA has been a highly controversial piece of legislation, and has been widely weaponised to silence criticism of state institutions and dissenting voices.
The statement released this week by RSF raises concern over the broad implications of the changes made to the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025. Some of these major revisions include the establishment of four regulatory bodies, a vague definition for the term “fake news” and stricter penalties for individuals accused of propagating it.
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