Elon Musk has revealed that X will make its recommendation algorithm fully public within seven days, allowing developers and the public to examine the code determining organic content and advertising visibility.
The announcement came via a post on X on January 10, 2026, promising regular updates every four weeks with detailed developer notes explaining changes over time.
Musk stated the release aims to enhance transparency, enabling better understanding of how posts are ranked, distributed, and recommended to users.
The move follows mounting regulatory pressure, particularly in Europe, where authorities have scrutinised X’s content moderation, misinformation handling, and algorithm practices.
In July 2025, French regulators formally requested X share its algorithm as part of an investigation into alleged bias and manipulation, a demand the company then rejected as politically motivated.
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The decision also coincides with ongoing criticism of Grok, xAI’s AI tool integrated with X, accused of enabling non-consensual sexualised deepfake images of women and children.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman criticised X’s recent restriction of Grok’s image-generation feature, calling it a shift of unlawful content creation into a premium service.
By opening the algorithm, X could ease regulatory concerns, provide insight into potential amplification of harmful content, and set a precedent for greater industry transparency.
The platform faces intensified scrutiny under Europe’s stricter digital rules focused on accountability and user protection.
Musk has positioned himself as an advocate for free speech and open systems, frequently criticising regulators and media organisations.
This transparency initiative could influence how social media platforms globally handle algorithm disclosure amid growing demands for accountability.
