Elon Musk announced that X will make its recommendation algorithms open source within seven days, coupled with monthly updates, as part of a broader effort to address increasing regulatory demands and improve transparency on the platform.
Elon Musk said in a post that social media platform X will “make the new X algorithm, including all code used to determine what organic and advertising posts are recommended to users, open source in 7 days”, and that the company will repeat the disclosure every four weeks with “comprehensive developer notes, to help you understand what changed.”[1]
The announcement, framed as a move towards transparency, commits X to publishing the full code behind both organic and advertising recommendation systems and to issuing detailed developer notes alongside each monthly update, aimed at explaining what has been altered in each release cycle. According to several reports, the pledge is to be repeated every four weeks so the public can observe ongoing changes to the recommendation stack.[1][2][3]
The timing is plainly linked to mounting regulatory pressure in Europe and elsewhere. The European Union has imposed a major penalty on X for alleged breaches of transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act; publications variously report the fine as $140 million and as €120 million. At the same time the European Commission has extended a retention order related to algorithms and the dissemination of illegal content, prolonging data-preservation requirements through to the end of 2026, according to industry reporting.[1][2][5]
The move follows broader regulatory scrutiny and national enquiries. French authorities have asked X to provide algorithmic material as part of an investigation into suspected bias and data extraction, while the EU action criticised X over its blue-tick verification, an allegedly flawed ad repository and obstacles faced by researchers seeking platform data, according to the cited coverage.[1]
X’s in-house AI assistant Grok, developed by Musk-owned xAI and integrated into the platform, has itself become a flashpoint. Several countries have raised concerns about an image-generation feature that critics say enabled sexualisation and misuse, and Indonesia has suspended or blocked Grok entirely over instances of AI-generated pornographic content, the reports state.[1]
Observers note Musk has previously promised greater transparency about X’s systems but has not always followed through consistently. Industry coverage recalls past pledges to open-source algorithms that were not fully implemented, underscoring scepticism among regulators and some researchers about whether monthly code releases will resolve deeper moderation and safety concerns.[3][4][7]
Opening the source code for recommendation algorithms would provide unprecedented public visibility into how X surfaces content, but it will not in itself resolve the platform’s regulatory challenges. Legal obligations such as the EU retention order, the ongoing probes into alleged algorithmic bias, and the operational risks posed by AI features like Grok mean transparency must be paired with demonstrable changes to moderation practices, data access and safeguards if the company is to satisfy regulators and outside researchers, according to the assembled reporting.[1][2][5][1]
📌 Reference Map:
##Reference Map:
- [1] (WION) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4, Paragraph 5, Paragraph 7
- [2] (Investing.com) – Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 7
- [3] (Business Standard) – Paragraph 2, Paragraph 6
- [4] (South China Morning Post) – Paragraph 6
- [5] (Geo.TV) – Paragraph 3, Paragraph 7
- [6] (TBS News) – Paragraph 3
- [7] (Times of India) – Paragraph 6
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
✅ The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being January 10, 2026. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/musks-x-to-open-source-new-algorithm-in-seven-days-4440573?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
✅ The direct quotes from Elon Musk are unique to this announcement, with no earlier matches found online.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
⚠️ The narrative originates from WION, a news outlet with limited global recognition. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/musks-x-to-open-source-new-algorithm-in-seven-days-4440573?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
✅ The claims are plausible and align with recent developments, including increased regulatory scrutiny of X’s algorithms. ([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2025/02/07/paris-prosecutors-open-investigation-into-x-s-algorithms_6737910_13.html?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
⚠️ The narrative is fresh and includes unique quotes, but originates from a less reputable source. The claims are plausible and align with recent developments, including increased regulatory scrutiny of X’s algorithms. ([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2025/02/07/paris-prosecutors-open-investigation-into-x-s-algorithms_6737910_13.html?utm_source=openai))
Supercharge Your Content Strategy
Feel free to test this content on your social media sites to see whether it works for your community.
