STORY
French authorities conducted a search of X’s Paris offices on 3 February 2026 as part of a widening criminal investigation. The operation was led by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office, with support from Europol. This search is a continuation of an inquiry first opened in January 2025 into the platform’s algorithms and data handling.
The investigation has recently expanded to include seven alleged criminal offences, many linked to the platform’s artificial intelligence tool, Grok. These include possible “complicity” in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, as well as the dissemination of sexually explicit deepfakes. Authorities are also investigating claims that Grok generated content denying the Holocaust, which is a criminal offence in France.
In addition to the physical search, Paris prosecutors have summoned X owner Elon Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for “voluntary interviews” on 20 April 2026. Yaccarino served as CEO until July 2025. Several current X employees have also been called as witnesses for that same week.