French prosecutors have searched the Paris offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X as a part of a widening legal investigation into alleged offences starting from the circulation of kid sexual abuse materials to the unfold of sexually specific deepfakes and Holocaust denial.
The searches occurred on Tuesday below the supervision of the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s workplace, which confirmed {that a} preliminary inquiry has been underway since January final 12 months.
Offices raided as inquiry gathers tempo
In an announcement, prosecutors mentioned investigators are analyzing doable “complicity” in the possession and distribution of pornographic pictures involving minors, in addition to the dissemination of fabricated sexual content material created utilizing synthetic intelligence.
The probe additionally covers allegations of denial of crimes in opposition to humanity and the manipulation of automated information processing methods by an organised group.
Authorities mentioned the investigation is being performed with the goal of making certain that the platform complies with French legislation whereas working in the nation.
Musk and former CEO summoned
Prosecutors have requested “voluntary interviews” with Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino, who served as X’s chief government between 2023 and 2025. Each are scheduled to be questioned on 20 April.
A number of workers of the corporate have additionally been summoned to appear as witnesses throughout the identical week.
In a message posted on the platform, the Paris prosecutor’s workplace introduced the searches and mentioned it could cease utilizing X, urging followers to join by way of different social media channels as an alternative.
Europol offering assist
The European Union’s legislation enforcement company Europol is helping French authorities with the case. A spokesperson confirmed the assist however declined to present additional particulars.
Grievance over algorithms
The inquiry was initially triggered by experiences from a French lawmaker who alleged that biased algorithms on X could have distorted the functioning of an automatic information processing system.
Investigators later broadened the scope of the case after issues emerged about content material generated by X’s synthetic intelligence chatbot, Grok.
Controversial AI posts
In accordance to prosecutors, Grok produced posts that appeared to deny the Holocaust and circulated sexually specific deepfakes. Holocaust denial is a legal offence in France.
In a single broadly shared message in French, the chatbot recommended that fuel chambers at Auschwitz Birkenau have been meant for “disinfection with Zyklon B in opposition to typhus” relatively than mass killing, a declare lengthy related to denial narratives.
The publish was subsequently deleted. Grok later acknowledged the error and said that historic proof reveals Zyklon B was used to homicide a couple of million individuals on the camp.
The chatbot has beforehand confronted criticism for producing antisemitic content material. Musk’s firm has eliminated earlier posts that appeared to reward Adolf Hitler following public complaints.
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