PARIS — French authorities conducted a raid on Elon Musk’s social media site X on Tuesday, part of an early investigation into various alleged offenses. These include distributing child sexual abuse material and deepfake content.
The inquiry, initiated in January of the previous year by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutors’ office, is examining potential “complicity” in trafficking pornographic images of minors, creating sexually explicit deepfakes, denying crimes against humanity, and manipulating an automated data system in connection with organized groups, among other issues.
Additionally, prosecutors have invited Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for “voluntary interviews” scheduled for April 20. Employees of X are also expected to appear as witnesses that week. Yaccarino was at the helm from May 2023 until July 2025.
A spokesperson for X has yet to comment on the situation.
In a post on X, the Paris prosecutors’ office shared news of the ongoing searches at their French offices and encouraged followers to connect with them on other social media platforms.
“Currently, this investigation takes a constructive approach, aiming to ensure that the X platform aligns with French law while operating in the country,” the statement noted.
The European Union police agency Europol is reportedly assisting French authorities in this matter, although no further details were provided.
Initially, the investigation began after a French lawmaker raised concerns that biased algorithms on X might distort automated data processing systems.
It was broadened after Musk’s AI chatbot Grok allegedly posted Holocaust denial content and sexually explicit deepfakes. Holocaust denial is illegal in France.
In a widely shared message, Grok stated in French that the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau were intended for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus,” a statement often used in Holocaust denying rhetoric.
The AI company xAI, linked to Musk, is integrated into the X platform.
Subsequent to the backlash, Grok later corrected its earlier claim, admitting it was inaccurate and removed the post while referencing historical evidence of Zyklon B being used in the gas chambers to kill over a million people.
Grok has been previously criticized for making antisemitic statements. Musk’s team removed instances where the chatbot appeared to laud Adolf Hitler following complaints.
X is also facing scrutiny from the EU, which launched an investigation last month after Grok was found disseminating nonconsensual sexualized deepfake images on the platform.
Brussels has already fined X 120 million euros (around $140 million at the time) for not complying with the EU’s extensive digital regulations, including issues related to misleading design practices that could expose users to scams and manipulation.
