Elon Musk Summoned by French Prosecutors Amid X Investigation

French authorities have called Elon Musk in for a voluntary meeting on Monday as part of their ongoing inquiry into the X platform, though his attendance remains uncertain. The cyber-crime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office previously raided X’s offices in February, citing potential violations tied to content posted on the service. This investigation, launched in January 2025, initially focused on concerns over recommended content but later broadened to include allegations about the chatbot Grok’s role in generating non-consensual sexual deepfakes.

US Justice Department Declines to Assist

The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Justice Department informed French officials in a letter it would not support their probe into X. The department also criticized French authorities for allegedly misusing the American legal system. Musk responded to the report on X, stating,

“Indeed, this needs to stop.”

Musk’s history of ignoring legal requests includes a notable absence from a court-ordered appearance in Los Angeles in September 2024, during an SEC investigation into his Twitter acquisition. French prosecutors, however, emphasized the scope of their inquiry, listing suspected crimes such as complicity in distributing child sexual abuse material, infringing image rights through deepfake content, and organized data manipulation.

Regulatory Action Expands Globally

X has consistently denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations “baseless.” In a statement, the company claimed,

“Today’s staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech.”

The probe has triggered legal actions against X and its parent company xAI in the UK, EU, and other regions. Linda Yaccarino, X’s former CEO, was also invited to a Paris interview in April, while serving in her role during the alleged offences. She shared Musk’s skepticism, accusing French prosecutors of conducting “a political vendetta against Americans” on the platform.

The BBC has sought comments from the Paris prosecutor’s office and the U.S. Justice Department to clarify further details. Whether Musk will appear on Monday or not, the situation underscores the growing scrutiny of X’s operations across international jurisdictions.