French Authorities Investigate Elon Musk’s X Over Alleged Illegal Content And Data Violations

French judicial authorities have launched a broad investigation into X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, and have recently taken more assertive legal steps as part of the case. The inquiry focuses on whether the platform and some of its executives may have breached French law through a range of alleged offenses linked to the platform’s operations.

As part of the investigation, French police carried out searches on January 3rd at X’s offices in Paris; these actions follow an inquiry that has been ongoing for approximately a year and that now encompasses multiple serious allegations. According to information reported by French media, the suspected offenses include complicity in the possession and organized distribution of sexual content involving minors, defamation, and the denial of crimes against humanity, specifically Holocaust denial. Authorities are also examining potential cybercrimes, such as the fraudulent extraction of data from automated processing systems, the manipulation of such systems, and the operation of an online platform deemed illegal within the framework of an organized group.

Prosecutors have confirmed that the scope of the investigation was expanded after complaints were filed concerning Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by X. In this context, Elon Musk has been formally summoned by French judicial authorities, alongside Linda Yaccarino, who served as X’s chief executive from June 2023 until July 2025. Both are expected to appear at a hearing scheduled for 20 April. Several employees of the company based in France have also been called to testify.

Investigators have indicated that the hearing will take place in a relatively informal format, intended to encourage dialogue and ensure that the platform operates in compliance with French legal standards.

France is not the only country scrutinizing the company’s activities. The United Kingdom’s data protection regulator has also signaled its intention to open an investigation into Grok, citing concerns over the generation of harmful, sexually explicit, and defamatory content. The AI assistant has previously faced regulatory action elsewhere, including in Indonesia, where its use was suspended following controversy over the creation of sexually explicit fabricated images.

Paris Prosecutor’s Office Withdraws from X

In parallel with the legal developments, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office announced that it has ceased using X as a communication channel. The institution encouraged its followers to access official updates through alternative platforms, notably Instagram and LinkedIn. Although the X account used to publish the announcement does not carry an official verification badge, the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the authenticity of the message through its other verified communication channels.

This decision reflects a wider shift among French public and political institutions to scale back or end their presence on X. Similar moves have been observed in recent years, driven by concerns related to platform governance and content moderation. In 2024, for example, Roland Lescure, who was serving as Minister for Industry at the time, left X in favor of Bluesky, citing comparable issues.

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