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Musk faces voluntary interview in Paris
Elon Musk has been called for a voluntary interview by French authorities on Monday as part of an ongoing investigation into his platform X. The tech billionaire's attendance remains uncertain.
Background of the investigation
French prosecutors launched the probe in January 2025 after concerns were raised about content recommendations on X. The inquiry later expanded to include allegations that the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, was used to generate non-consensual sexual deepfake images, including those involving women and reportedly children.
February raid and legal escalation
In February, cyber-crime investigators from the Paris prosecutor's office raided X's offices. The search was linked to suspected offenses, including complicity in distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), violations of image rights through deepfakes, and organized fraudulent data extraction.
Musk and X's response
X has consistently denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations "baseless." After the February raid, the company issued a statement accusing French authorities of distorting the law and undermining free speech. Musk himself labeled the investigation a "political attack" in a post on the platform.
"Today's staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech. X is committed to defending its fundamental rights and the rights of its users."
X statement, February 2026
International tensions
The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that the U.S. Justice Department had informed French authorities it would not assist in the probe. The department also accused France of misusing the U.S. legal system, according to the report. Musk responded to the news on X, writing, "indeed, this needs to stop."
Previous defiance of legal summons
Musk's history of skipping legal appearances raises doubts about his attendance on Monday. In September 2024, he failed to appear in a Los Angeles court for an SEC investigation into his acquisition of Twitter (now X). The date for Monday's interview was set by prosecutors in February.
Broader regulatory scrutiny
The investigation has triggered legal and regulatory actions against X and its parent company, xAI, in the UK, EU, and other jurisdictions. Linda Yaccarino, X's former CEO, was also summoned for a voluntary interview in April, as she held the role during the period under scrutiny.
"This is a political vendetta against Americans."
Linda Yaccarino, former X CEO, in a post on X
Next steps
The Paris prosecutor's office and the U.S. Justice Department have not yet responded to requests for comment. The outcome of Monday's interview could further shape the legal battle between X and French authorities.
