X Raided in France

PARIS — French authorities searched the Paris headquarters of X on Tuesday as part of an expanding criminal investigation into the company and its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. As part of the probe, tech billionaire Elon Musk has been summoned for questioning.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said the raid stems from an inquiry opened in January 2025. France’s cybercrime unit carried out the search with assistance from Europol. Prosecutors confirmed that Musk, who serves as chairman of X, and former chief executive Linda Yaccarino have both been called to appear at hearings scheduled for April. Other X employees are expected to be interviewed as witnesses.

According to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the investigation originally centered on suspected misuse of the platform’s algorithms. It has since been broadened to examine allegations involving Grok, including the creation of sexually explicit deepfake images and the spread of Holocaust denial material.

In a statement posted on its platform, X rejected the accusations, describing them as unfounded and denying any misconduct. The company said it intends to defend both its own rights and those of its users. It characterized the police action as an excessive display of law enforcement and said it was disappointed by the development. Musk echoed that sentiment in a post, calling the move politically motivated.

The French investigation comes amid growing scrutiny of Grok’s image-generation capabilities. Last week, the European Commission opened its own probe into the chatbot after criticism over its ability to generate sexually explicit imagery. Concerns intensified late last year when reports surfaced that Grok had produced a large number of digitally altered nude images — including of women and minors — at users’ requests.

French prosecutors said they are examining a range of possible offenses, including complicity in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, as well as violations of image rights through sexually explicit deepfakes.

The case highlights a broader divide between Europe and the United States over regulating emerging artificial intelligence technologies and policing online speech. European officials have generally pursued stricter oversight of major tech companies, particularly regarding user safety and harmful content.

In mid-January, X announced tighter controls on Grok’s image-generation features, saying the chatbot would no longer “undress” photos of real individuals. However, digital watchdog group AI Forensics reported that the system could still be used to create sexualized images of people as of January 20.

Advocates for online safety have warned that AI-generated intimate image abuse can have severe psychological and social consequences, particularly for women and girls. Campaigners argue that generative AI tools have lowered the barrier for creating harmful and exploitative content, increasing risks for marginalized communities.

Earlier Tuesday, the United Kingdom’s information regulator also launched an investigation into Grok’s ability to produce explicit or harmful visual content. Meanwhile, authorities in Indonesia and Malaysia temporarily blocked access to the chatbot in late January before lifting the restrictions days later, citing steps taken by X to curb misuse.

The legal and regulatory challenges facing X underscore mounting international pressure on social media platforms and AI developers as governments grapple with how to address the rapid advancement of generative technologies.

Source: CNN