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Wednesday, Feb 04, 2026

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Political Censorship: French Prosecutors Raid Musk’s X Offices in Paris

Paris prosecutors searched X’s French offices as part of a cybercrime investigation examining alleged algorithm manipulation and the platform’s handling of harmful AI-generated deepfakes, while summoning Elon Musk and former chief executive Linda Yaccarino for voluntary interviews in April.
French prosecutors have raided the Paris offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X as part of a widening cybercrime investigation into the company’s systems, including suspected algorithm manipulation and the spread of unlawful content linked to its AI tool, Grok.

The search was carried out by the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit, with investigators seeking evidence connected to an inquiry that has drawn attention in France and across Europe.

The investigation is examining allegations that X’s automated systems may have been manipulated and that data may have been extracted or processed in ways that breach French law.

The case has intensified amid a surge of complaints and public concern over sexually explicit deepfakes shared on the platform, including non-consensual images and content involving minors.

Investigators are also scrutinising the role of Grok, the chatbot associated with Musk’s AI business, after reports that it was used to generate or amplify harmful synthetic images that circulated widely online.

In parallel with the raid, prosecutors issued summonses for Elon Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino to attend “voluntary interviews” in Paris on April 20, 2026. The authorities said the request is tied to the ongoing inquiry into how the platform was managed and how its systems operated during the period under examination.

The operation reflects the increasingly assertive approach European authorities are taking toward large digital platforms, as regulators and prosecutors push for tighter accountability over algorithmic systems, illegal content, and AI-enabled abuse.

Investigators have signalled that the inquiry remains active and could expand further as evidence is assessed.
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