Elon Musk has been summoned to Paris for questioning as French investigators examine alleged misconduct linked to the social media platform X, including the spread of child sexual abuse material and deepfake content.
Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino have been called for “voluntary interviews,” while other employees are expected to testify as witnesses this week, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
It is not yet clear whether Musk or Yaccarino will attend. X did not respond to queries from The Associated Press, and Yaccarino’s current company, eMed, also did not comment.
Prosecutors are also looking into claims that controversy around X’s AI system Grok and its deepfake content may have been used to boost the value of Musk-owned companies ahead of a planned market listing. French authorities have shared their concerns with US regulators.
The investigation follows a search conducted in February at X’s offices in France, part of a probe launched in January 2025 by the Paris cybercrime unit. Musk and Yaccarino were summoned in their roles as company leaders during the period under review.
Prosecutors said the interviews are meant to allow executives to explain their position and outline steps to comply with French law. They added the inquiry aims to ensure X follows national regulations while operating in France.
Authorities declined to say whether Musk would face penalties if he does not appear.
The probe began after a French lawmaker raised concerns that X’s algorithms could be biased and distort automated data systems. It later expanded after Grok generated controversial posts, including content denying the Holocaust and producing sexually explicit deepfakes.
Investigators are examining possible involvement in distributing illegal images of minors, creating and spreading explicit deepfakes, denying crimes against humanity, and manipulating automated systems as part of an organized effort.
Grok, developed by xAI and integrated into X, drew global criticism after producing large amounts of non-consensual deepfake content. In one widely shared post, it incorrectly suggested gas chambers at Auschwitz were used for disinfection rather than mass killing — a claim linked to Holocaust denial. The chatbot later corrected itself, acknowledging the historical facts.
In March, French prosecutors alerted the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, suggesting the controversy may have been deliberately created to inflate the value of X and xAI ahead of a planned June 2026 stock market listing tied to a merger involving SpaceX.
However, according to The Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department declined to assist French investigators, saying the request could amount to interference in an American company’s activities.
Separately, Reporters Without Borders said it has filed a new complaint against X, accusing the platform of allowing disinformation to spread.
The group said misleading content continues to gain wide attention on X despite repeated requests for removal, adding that the platform’s response has been inadequate and undermines the public’s right to reliable information.