French authorities have searched the Paris offices of X and ordered owner Elon Musk to appear for questioning in April, escalating a year-long investigation into alleged algorithm abuse and fraudulent data extraction. The probe is being led by the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit amid widening European scrutiny of the platform.
Prosecutors said the investigation has expanded following complaints linked to xAI’s Grok chatbot. New lines of inquiry include alleged complicity in the possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material and violations of image rights involving sexually explicit deepfakes. Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino were summoned for a hearing on April 20, along with other staff as witnesses.
UK regulators have also opened investigations. Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office is examining Grok over personal data processing and harmful content, while media regulator Ofcom is assessing whether X has adequately mitigated risks related to sexual deepfakes. Separately, the European Union has launched its own inquiry into X over potential dissemination of illegal content.
French prosecutors said the goal is to ensure compliance with national law. Following the hearing, authorities may decide whether to continue or close the case. The prosecutor’s office also announced it would stop using X for official communications.
