Paris Cybercrime Unit Intensifies Scrutiny of X Platform
French authorities conducted a raid on the Paris offices of social media platform X this week, escalating a year-long investigation into alleged algorithmic manipulation and data extraction violations. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that owner Elon Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have been summoned for questioning in April 2026 as part of the expanded probe, which now includes allegations tied to X’s AI chatbot Grok and dissemination of illicit content.
From Political Bias to AI Risks
The investigation, initially launched in January 2025 following complaints from French lawmakers about algorithmic bias affecting political discourse, has broadened to address Grok’s role in spreading Holocaust denial content and sexually explicit deepfakes. Prosecutors are also examining potential complicity in child exploitation material distribution and image rights violations.
X’s Response and Legal Implications
While X’s France director Laurent Buanec previously defended the platform’s content moderation policies, Musk dismissed the initial probe as politically motivated. With the prosecutor’s office now collaborating with Europol and French cybercrime units, the case highlights growing EU scrutiny of tech platforms’ compliance with local laws. Authorities emphasized their goal is to ensure X adheres to French regulations while operating in the region.
