French prosecutors raid X’s Paris offices over Grok deepfakes, CSAM allegations, and algorithm manipulation probe

French prosecutors raided X’s Paris offices as part of a criminal investigation led by the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit with support from France’s National Gendarmerie and Europol. Authorities said the probe—opened in January 2025 after complaints from French officials—covers allegations including fraudulent/automated data extraction, tampering with automated data processing systems, and potential organized manipulation of X’s recommendation algorithms, including concerns about possible influence by foreign actors. Prosecutors also summoned Elon Musk and X executive Linda Yaccarino for voluntary interviews in Paris in April, and called additional employees as witnesses; no charges or arrests were reported at the time of the search.

The investigation expanded to include X’s AI chatbot Grok, following complaints that it facilitated or generated illegal content, including sexually explicit deepfakes (including alleged depictions of minors), Holocaust denial content, and alleged complicity in the possession/distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), alongside allegations of operating an illicit online platform. UK regulators also opened parallel scrutiny: the ICO launched a formal investigation into X and Grok over potential generation of nonconsensual sexualized images (including of children), and Ofcom had previously announced its own inquiry into related concerns. Separately, European policy pressure on youth social media access continued, with the Netherlands considering a higher minimum age and stricter platform oversight, but that debate is distinct from the French criminal case.