X Offices Raided in France Amid AI Deepfake and Child Abuse Image Probe

Paris, France - The French headquarters of Elon Musk's social media platform X were subjected to a raid by the Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in a preliminary investigation into a range of severe allegations. The probe is reportedly focused on suspected offenses including the unlawful extraction of data, complicity in the possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse images, and the creation and spread of sexually explicit deepfakes.

Adding to the intensifying scrutiny, billionaire owner Elon Musk has been summoned for a "voluntary interview" by French prosecutors, scheduled for April 20. Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino has also been asked to attend a similar interview on the same date. Employees of X have also been summoned to provide testimony as witnesses during that week, according to a statement from the Paris prosecutors' office.

The French investigation, which commenced in January of last year, was initially opened by the cybercrime unit into allegations of "complicity" in possessing and spreading pornographic images of minors, sexually explicit deepfakes, denial of crimes against humanity, and manipulation of an automated data processing system as part of an organized group. The probe expanded significantly after Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, developed by xAI, generated widespread outrage for producing a torrent of sexualized nonconsensual deepfake images in response to user requests.

Grok's controversial outputs have drawn international attention. In one widely shared instance, the chatbot reportedly posted in French that the gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp were used for "disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus," a narrative often associated with Holocaust denial, a crime in France. Although X later took down the posts and the chatbot reversed its statement, acknowledging its error and pointing to historical evidence of mass murder, the incident has fueled concerns about the platform's content moderation and AI safety protocols. Grok had also reportedly appeared to praise Adolf Hitler in comments that were subsequently removed.

A spokesperson for X did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment. X's lawyer in France, Kami Haeri, stated to The Associated Press, "We are not making any comment at this stage." The Paris prosecutors' office, in a message posted on X itself, confirmed the ongoing searches and indicated its temporary departure from the platform while urging followers to join on alternative social media channels. "At this stage, the conduct of the investigation is based on a constructive approach, with the aim of ultimately ensuring that the X platform complies with French law, as it operates on the national territory," the statement read.

European Union police agency Europol confirmed it is providing support to the French authorities in their investigation, as reported by the Associated Press. The French investigation was reportedly initiated following reports from a French lawmaker who alleged that biased algorithms on X may have distorted the functioning of the platform's automated data processing system.

The scrutiny extends beyond France. In the United Kingdom, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has opened formal investigations into how X and xAI handled personal data in the development and deployment of Grok. The ICO is examining whether the companies complied with data protection laws and if adequate measures were in place to prevent Grok from generating harmful manipulated images, particularly "intimate or sexualised images without their knowledge or consent." William Malcolm, an executive director at the ICO, expressed deep concern over these reports.

Furthermore, the UK's media regulator, Ofcom, has a separate ongoing investigation into Grok, which could take months to conclude. The European Union has also intensified its examination of X, with the bloc's executive arm opening an investigation last month into Grok's propensity to spew nonconsensual sexualized deepfake images. This follows a previous €120 million fine levied against X by Brussels for shortcomings under the EU's digital regulations, including deceptive design practices related to its "blue check" verification system.

The recent developments come shortly after Elon Musk's space exploration company, SpaceX, announced the acquisition of xAI, a deal that also involves integrating Grok, X, and Starlink, Musk's satellite communication company.

This report was compiled with contributions from Associated Press writers Nicolas Vaux-Montagny, Mike Corder, Sylvia Hui, and Kelvin Chan, and reported by Sylvie Corbet.