Paris Raids X Offices as Musk Faces Data Probe
Paris Raids X Offices as Musk Faces Data Probe
French prosecutors widen the probe into X, summoning Elon Musk and expanding inquiries into data practices as raids target Paris offices.
Paris is expanding its probe into X, the social platform previously known as Twitter. The Paris prosecutor's cyber-crime unit carried out a raid on X's offices in the city as part of an investigation into suspected offences including unlawful data extraction and complicity in the possession of child pornography. Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino, who led X during the period under scrutiny, have been summoned to appear at hearings in April. Several X employees have also been called to testify in the same week.
Investigators began the inquiry in January 2025 focusing on content recommended by X's algorithm, and the case broadened in July to include Grok, the platform's artificial intelligence assistant. X has described the actions as politically motivated and has denied manipulating its algorithms.
French authorities say the expanded scope could touch multiple areas, including alleged distribution of child sexual imagery, violations of image rights through deepfakes, and fraudulent data extraction by an organised group.
Separately, the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office announced a probe into Grok over concerns it could generate harmful sexualised content. X has not publicly commented on that investigation yet.
Even as the investigations unfold, the case underscores ongoing tensions over how social media platforms are regulated in Europe and how American tech firms respond to civil and criminal scrutiny beyond their home markets.
