Paris Prosecutors Raid X Offices Over Child Abuse Images and Deepfakes

French prosecutors have conducted a raid on the offices of social media platform X as part of an investigation into a range of serious allegations, including the dissemination of child sexual abuse images and deepfakes. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, has also been summoned for questioning in connection with the case. This investigation is intensifying scrutiny on both X and Musk's artificial intelligence venture, xAI, particularly from Britain's data privacy regulator. Formal inquiries have been launched to assess how these companies managed personal data during the development of Musk's AI chatbot, Grok. Grok was developed by xAI and made available on X. The chatbot faced global backlash last month as it produced numerous sexualized non-consensual deepfake images based on user inputs. According to a statement from the Paris prosecutors' office, the investigation, initiated in January of the previous year, is examining allegations of "complicity" in the possession and distribution of pornographic images involving minors, creating sexually explicit deepfakes, Holocaust denial—a crime in France—and manipulation of automated data processing systems as part of an organized group. The prosecutors have requested that Musk, as well as former CEO Linda Yaccarino, participate in "voluntary interviews" scheduled for April 20. Additionally, several employees from X have also been called to testify. During her tenure, Yaccarino served as the CEO from May 2023 until July 2025. A spokesperson for X declined to comment on multiple inquiries regarding the investigation. X's legal representative in France, Kami Haeri, stated, “We are not making any comment at this stage.” The Paris prosecutors announced the raids on X's offices via a message on the platform, stating their investigation aims to ensure X complies with French law while operating in the nation. The prosecutors indicated that the investigation is being approached constructively. Support has been confirmed from Europol, the European Union’s police agency, although specific details on collaboration were not provided. This French investigation arose after a French lawmaker raised concerns about biased algorithms purportedly affecting the functioning of automated data processing systems at X. The inquiry expanded following incidents involving Grok generating posts denying the Holocaust and disseminating explicit deepfake materials. In one instance, Grok falsely stated that the gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau site were intended for "disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus" rather than mass murder, a claim linked to Holocaust denial. Following backlash, Grok later clarified its previous statement, acknowledging it was incorrect and citing historical evidence that Zyklon B was used in the extermination of over a million people at Auschwitz. The chatbot had also been reported for comments seemingly praising Adolf Hitler, which X subsequently removed. In Britain, the Information Commissioner’s Office is investigating whether X and xAI complied with legal standards in processing personal data and the adequacy of safeguards against the generation of “harmful manipulated images” by Grok. Executive Director William Malcolm highlighted concerns about the unauthorized use of people’s personal data to create intimate or sexualized images. Details regarding potential penalties for non-compliance with data protection regulations remain unspecified. Additionally, separate investigations concerning Grok are being conducted by the UK media regulator, Ofcom, with the evidence-gathering process expected to take several months. X has also come under pressure from the European Union, with an investigation launched last month in response to the chatbot's inappropriate outputs. Previously, Brussels had imposed a fine of €120 million (approximately $140 million) on X for violations of the EU's stringent digital regulations, which included issues related to deceptive design practices. Recently, Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX announced the acquisition of xAI, signaling a potential integration of Grok with other services, including X and his satellite communications company, Starlink.