By PAUL O’DONOGHUE, Senior Correspondent
FRENCH prosecutors have raided the Paris offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X as part of a cybercrime investigation into suspected data and child protection offences.
The Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit carried out the search.
Europol, the EU law enforcement agency, said: “An investigation led by the French authorities is currently underway concerning the online platform X.
“[It is] in relation to the proliferation of illegal content. Notably, the production of deepfakes, child sexual abuse material, and content contesting crimes against humanity.”
It added: “On the action day, French authorities carried out investigative measures in the offices of the platform in France.”
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office is leading the probe. It is supported by the French Gendarmerie’s cybercrime unit (UNCyber) and Europol.
Prosecutors said they have summoned Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino to appear at hearings in April.
The investigation began in January 2025 when authorities scrutinised content recommended by X’s algorithm. They widened the case in July to include Musk’s AI chatbot Grok. X previously called the French action “politically-motivated” and denied claims it manipulated its algorithm. The company has not commented on the latest developments.
UK regulators are also investigating Grok. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it is probing the tool’s handling of personal data linked to sexualised and intimate images generated without consent. Ofcom said it continues to investigate X and treats the matter as “a matter of urgency,” but noted it lacks powers to examine chatbot image creation.
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