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French prosecutors raided the Paris offices of social media platform X on Tuesday as part of an initial investigation into the distribution of child sexual abuse images and deep hoaxes. They called in billionaire owner Elon Musk for questioning.
X and Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI are also under scrutiny by Britain’s data privacy watchdog, which launched formal investigations into the companies’ creation and deployment of Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok.
Grok sparked international outrage last month after posting sexually explicit nude photos in response to requests from X users. Deepfakes are advanced AI-based manipulations where images, audio or video are digitally altered or created entirely by AI.
French police raided the offices of Elon Musk’s social media network X on Tuesday and prosecutors ordered the tech billionaire to face trial in April in connection with a wide-ranging investigation into the platform, including allegations that it contained and disseminated child sexual abuse images and deep lies.
What is Grok?
Grok is built by xAI and is available on X, which encourages users to “ask for anything”. Users frequently ask Grok to verify videos, images and information in X posts, and to clarify or elaborate on topics.
Grok’s website describes the device as “.A free AI assistant designed by xAI to maximize truth and realism.” Critics say it’s programmed to reflect the field’s perspective. Musk. He said clearly “Fixing” after Grok gave an answer he didn’t like.
Grok can be used to create or edit images using prompts in the search bar on X, which has led to deep fake controversy. A Reuters chatbot continues to generate sexually explicit images of people, despite users clearly warning that the subjects are not consenting.
On Monday, Musk’s space exploration and rocket business SpaceX announced the acquisition of XIN, a combination of Grok,X and satellite communications company Starlink.
Why are the French police investigating?
The French investigation was opened in January last year by the prosecutor’s cybercrime unit, the Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The authorities launched the investigation after allegations from the French legislature that biased algorithms may have distorted the operation of the automated data processing system.
Grok expanded the investigation after generating those posts He is said to have denied the Holocaust. – a crime in France – and spreads explicit sexual lies, the statement said.
He is now facing charges of alleged “sophistication” in the possession and distribution of child pornography, sexual innuendo, denial of crimes against humanity and use of an automated data processing system as part of an organized group, among other charges.
Prosecutors have asked Mook and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino to appear for “voluntary interviews” on April 20. Employees of X were called as witnesses the same week, the statement said. Yaccarino has been CEO since May 2023. Until July 2025.
In a message posted on X, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced an ongoing search of the company’s offices in France and announced it was leaving the platform.
“At this stage, the investigation process is based on a constructive approach, the aim of which is to finally ensure that the X platform complies with French law, as it operates on the territory of the country,” the prosecutor’s statement said.
The European Union’s police agency, Europol, is “supporting the French authorities on this,” Europol spokesman Jan Op-General Ort told The Associated Press.
X, How did Musk respond?
The company defended itself in a statement on the social media platform.
“The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office is attempting to put pressure on X’s senior management in the United States by targeting French entities and our employees that are not the focus of this investigation,” X said in a statement.
“The Prosecutor’s Office ignored international conventions and established procedures for obtaining evidence that respects the right to self-defense.
Musk He shared the statement.“This is a political attack,” he added.
Law professor Christine Thomasen says that state legislation is needed to ban the sharing of non-consensual deep fakes on X, and warns that users have limited recourse.
What other diagnoses is X having?
of Canada Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne said last month. Grok is expanding its investigation into X following reports that it is being used to create and share explicit images of people without their consent.
Malaysia and Indonesia both temporarily banned Grok last month, but both bans have since been lifted. Since its inception. Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said last month that Canada would not consider a ban on X — a comment that drew praise from Musk.
Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office said it was investigating whether X and xAI followed the law when handling personal data and whether Grock had taken any steps to generate “harmful distorted images”.
“The GROC reports raise serious questions about how people’s personal data is being used to generate intimate or sexual images without their knowledge or consent, and whether the necessary safeguards are in place to prevent this,” said William Malcolm, director general of the watchdog.
A separate investigation into Grok, launched last month by UK media regulator Ofcom, continues.
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Last month, the European Union’s executive body opened an investigation into unconsented pornographic images.
The European Commission has imposed a €120 million (CDN$194 million) fine on X for alleged irregularities under the union. Breaking the digital rulesThe company has also made changes to the blue check mark to indicate verified accounts that have broken rules on “misleading design practices” that could expose users to fraud and fraud.