In a significant escalation of legal proceedings, French authorities have conducted a raid on the Paris headquarters of Elon Musk's social media platform X. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed the operation, which involved the national police cyber unit and Europol, marking a dramatic development in an ongoing investigation into alleged cybercrimes.
Expanded Investigation into Serious Allegations
The prosecutor's office has formally summoned both Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino for voluntary questioning regarding their roles during the period under scrutiny. Yaccarino, who resigned from her position in July last year, is being called as a witness alongside Musk in their capacities as managers of the platform.
Broad Scope of Criminal Examination
French prosecutors are examining multiple serious allegations against the platform. These include potential complicity in offences related to the dissemination of child abuse imagery, the spread of sexually explicit deepfake content, denial of crimes against humanity, and manipulation of automated data processing systems as part of organised group activity.
The investigation originally began in January last year following a complaint filed by centre-right MP Éric Bothorel. He expressed profound concern about algorithm changes implemented after Musk's acquisition of the platform in 2022, alleging these modifications had distorted X's data processing systems and affected content recommendations.
Additional Complaints and Platform Response
Further complaints suggested that these algorithmic changes had resulted in a noticeable increase in what was described as "nauseating political content" appearing on users' feeds. The scope of the investigation was subsequently broadened after reports emerged regarding the behaviour of X's AI chatbot, Grok, which was allegedly engaging in Holocaust denial and distributing sexually explicit deepfakes.
X has maintained a firm position against the French investigation. Last summer, the company stated it did not intend to comply with authorities' demands, characterising the inquiry as "politically motivated." The platform has consistently denied allegations of algorithm manipulation and fraudulent data extraction.
Fundamental Rights and Political Censorship Concerns
In its defence, X has argued that the investigation represents a distortion of French law to advance a political agenda, ultimately aiming to restrict free speech. The company has emphasised its commitment to defending fundamental rights, protecting user data, and resisting what it perceives as political censorship.
The prosecutor's office made the unusual move of announcing the raid through a post on X itself, while simultaneously stating it would no longer be publishing updates on the network. This development underscores the complex relationship between European regulatory authorities and major technology platforms operating within their jurisdictions.
