French authorities conducted a search at the Paris offices of X as part of an expanding criminal investigation into the company’s operations and content moderation practices. The action was carried out by the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit with support from national police and the European Union’s law enforcement agency Europol on February 3, 2026.
The raid forms part of an inquiry that began in January 2025 and initially centred on allegations that X’s automated systems and algorithms may have distorted data processing and content recommendations. Prosecutors have since broadened the investigation to include possible offences related to the possession and distribution of illegal material, including child sexual abuse imagery and sexually explicit deepfake content, and violations involving denial of crimes against humanity. French authorities allege the platform may have failed to prevent the spread of such content.
French prosecutors issued summonses for voluntary interviews scheduled for April 20, 2026, to Elon Musk, the owner of X, and to the company’s former chief executive, Linda Yaccarino. Additional employees of X’s French unit have also been called to give testimony as part of the inquiry. Officials described the purpose of questioning as ensuring the company’s compliance with French law, given its operations on national territory.
Authorities stated they are examining how X’s artificial intelligence systems, including the chatbot Grok, have been used and whether safeguards are adequate to prevent the creation and dissemination of unlawful material. Reports that Grok generated non-consensual and sexually explicit deepfakes have figured in public scrutiny, leading French investigators to review the platform’s moderation policies and technical controls.
X spokespersons responded to the developments by describing the allegations as unfounded and asserting that the company denies any wrongdoing. The platform has previously faced criticism from regulators and lawmakers in Europe over data protection, algorithm transparency, and the dissemination of harmful content. The broader regulatory environment includes ongoing reviews by European authorities into compliance with digital safety laws.
No formal charges have been announced as of early February 2026. The investigation remains ongoing and will continue as prosecutors and summoned individuals prepare for interviews and document exchanges. French officials emphasised that the raid and summonses are part of legal procedures to assess potential violations rather than indicative of final determinations.