French police searched the Paris offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X as prosecutors widened a year-long investigation into possible algorithm abuse and fraudulent data extraction. Authorities also ordered Musk to answer questions in April, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
The probe, led by the prosecutor’s cybercrime unit with support from French police specialists and Europol, began after a French lawmaker alleged that biased algorithms on X could have distorted the operation of an automated data processing system. Prosecutors said this week they are expanding the inquiry to scrutinize the functioning of X’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, and to examine alleged complicity in disseminating Holocaust denial content and sexual deepfakes.
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Musk denied the initial accusations in July, calling the case politically motivated. In a statement Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office said the investigation remains a “constructive” effort to ensure X complies with French laws while operating on national territory.
The search and expanded scope underscore intensifying European scrutiny of how major tech platforms use AI, moderate harmful material and deploy automated systems that influence what users see. While investigators have not announced charges, the widening of the case to include AI-generated content highlights regulators’ growing focus on sexual deepfakes and content denying the Holocaust, both of which can be illegal under French law.
As part of its update, the Paris prosecutor’s office also said it would stop using X to publish official information and would move its communications to LinkedIn and Instagram, platforms owned by Microsoft and Meta, respectively.
X, formerly Twitter, has faced mounting questions from European officials over illegal content and transparency since Musk acquired the company. Prosecutors did not provide details on what investigators seized during the search or the specific time frame of Musk’s scheduled questioning, beyond saying it would occur in April.
In Dublin, pressure on the platform intensified from lawmakers as Ireland’s parliamentary media committee said X refused to appear at a hearing on the regulation of online platforms. Labour TD Alan Kelly called the company’s decision “disgraceful” and said the controversy over Grok’s AI-generated content has been “shameful” and “shocking.”
Kelly said Meta, Google and TikTok agreed to attend the session, which follows an investigation into the platform’s handling of sexually explicit images, including potential child sexual abuse material. He said the committee had written to X and received a refusal.
“They are refusing to come before the Irish people,” Kelly said, adding that he had asked Taoiseach Micheál Martin to contact the company. Kelly said he wanted to read the government’s correspondence aloud at the hearing to press X to participate.
A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said Martin agreed in the Dáil to reach out to the company and that his office had written to X supporting the committee’s request. The spokesperson added that Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s media regulator, is engaging with the European Commission, which has launched a formal investigation into X and Grok’s functions.
Kelly said Ireland should be prepared to act if European measures do not move quickly enough. He urged stronger laws to protect adults and children and said he had heard from many people—particularly women—who have been harmed by the spread of explicit AI-generated images.
X has not publicly commented on the French search or on its decision not to attend the Irish committee hearing. The company has previously framed its approach as favoring maximal free expression while complying with applicable laws.
Additional reporting Róisín Cullen
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
