French Authorities Raid X Offices as Investigation into Deepfakes and Child Safety Expands

2026-02-03 companies

Paris, Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
On Tuesday, Paris cybercrime prosecutors executed a raid on X’s French headquarters, signaling a critical turning point in the platform’s European regulatory challenges. The investigation, which initially scrutinized algorithm manipulation, has broadened to serious allegations regarding the distribution of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual deepfakes generated by the Grok AI. In a move defining the stakes of executive liability, prosecutors have formally summoned Elon Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for questioning in Paris this April, escalating the legal pressure on the social media giant.

The Raid and Expanding Legal Peril

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office, supported by the French national gendarmerie and Europol, executed a search of X’s French offices [1][2][4]. This operation marks a dramatic escalation in a preliminary investigation originally opened in January 2025, which initially focused on allegations of algorithm manipulation and illicit data extraction [1][3]. The scope of the inquiry has since widened significantly following reports regarding the platform’s AI assistant, Grok, and its role in disseminating illicit content [3][4]. The prosecutor’s office has confirmed that the probe now covers potential infractions including complicity in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the spread of non-consensual sexualized deepfakes, and crimes against humanity denial [1][3].

Executive Accountability and Summons

In a move that underscores the personal liability facing the company’s leadership, French authorities have issued summons for Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino to appear for “free hearings” in Paris on April 20, 2026 [1][2]. Prosecutors are targeting the executives in their capacities as the de facto and de jure managers of the platform during the alleged offenses [2][5]. Yaccarino, who resigned as CEO in July 2025 after two years at the helm, is being called to account for the platform’s operations during her tenure [1][6]. Furthermore, current employees of the platform have been summoned to provide witness testimony between April 20 and April 24, 2026, as authorities seek to establish the extent of the platform’s compliance—or lack thereof—with French law [2][3].

Algorithmic Bias and the Grok Factor

The investigation’s roots trace back to complaints filed in early 2025 by French MP Éric Bothorel, who alleged that biased algorithms were distorting the platform’s automated data processing systems [1][3]. These concerns were compounded by reports from a public sector cybersecurity director regarding the amplification of “offensive political content” [5]. However, the inclusion of Grok in the investigation highlights a specific technological concern: the AI’s alleged capability to generate and spread prohibited content, including negationist material and deepfakes [3][4]. The prosecutor’s office has stated that the investigation aims to verify whether the platform was administered by an “organized group” facilitating these illicit activities [1][3].

International Regulatory Pressure

This raid occurs against a backdrop of intensifying regulatory scrutiny across Europe. Coinciding with the French operation, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced on Tuesday that it has launched an investigation into both X and its AI subsidiary, xAI, regarding sexualized images generated by Grok [4]. This parallel probe carries significant financial risk, with potential fines reaching up to 4% of the company’s global annual turnover [4]. Symbolizing the complete breakdown of trust between the platform and French judicial authorities, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday that it would cease using X entirely, shifting its official communication channels to LinkedIn and Instagram [1][3].

Sources

Regulation X Corp