French authorities have stepped up scrutiny of Elon Musk’s social media platform X after police raided its Paris offices and prosecutors broadened a long-running criminal investigation.
What began as a probe into alleged algorithm abuse and data practices has now expanded to include complaints linked to the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, as well as potential criminal offences tied to illegal content and image rights.
The move signals a tougher stance by French prosecutors as they assess whether X complies with national laws while operating in the country.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that the raid took place on Tuesday and forms part of a cybercrime investigation that has been underway for a year.
Prosecutors said the scope of the case has widened following new complaints and evidence, bringing fresh legal risks for the company and its senior leadership.
From algorithms to AI scrutiny
The original investigation centred on suspected abuse of algorithms and the alleged fraudulent extraction of data by X or individuals linked to the company.
According to prosecutors, those concerns remain active and are now being examined alongside new allegations related to the functioning of Grok, the AI chatbot integrated into the platform.
The expanded probe will assess whether the platform may have been complicit in the detention and diffusion of images of a child-pornographic nature.
Prosecutors are also examining alleged violations of a person’s image rights through the circulation of sexually explicit deepfakes.
These potential offences significantly broaden the legal exposure for X beyond technical or regulatory breaches.
French authorities said the decision to widen the investigation reflects the nature of complaints received and the way the platform’s automated systems operate, including how content is processed and distributed.
Lawmaker complaint and data processing claims
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the case was initially triggered after a lawmaker contacted authorities with concerns that biased algorithms on X could have distorted the operation of an automated data processing system.
That allegation led prosecutors to open a formal inquiry and assign the case to specialist cybercrime units.
The investigation is being conducted by the prosecutor’s cybercrime division in cooperation with the French police’s own cybercrime unit.
Europol is also involved in the investigation.
Prosecutors said the investigation is being carried out with a view to ensuring that X complies with French law insofar as it operates on national territory, framing the process as a constructive approach rather than a punitive one at this stage.
Executives summoned as probe deepens
As part of the widened inquiry, Elon Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino have been summoned to appear at a hearing scheduled for April 20.
Other members of the X staff have also been called as witnesses.
There was no immediate response from X following the raid or the announcement of the expanded probe.
In July, Musk rejected the initial accusations and said French prosecutors were pursuing a politically motivated criminal investigation.
Prosecutors leave X
In a related move, the Paris prosecutor’s office said it has stopped using X for official communications.
It will instead publish updates via LinkedIn and Instagram going forward.
LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft, while Instagram is operated by Meta.
The shift highlights how French judicial authorities are reassessing their engagement with social media platforms amid rising concerns about platform governance and compliance.
The widening of the investigation marks a significant escalation in France’s approach to policing digital platforms, with X now facing a broader set of allegations that extend well beyond its original algorithm practices.
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