French Authorities Search X's Offices Amid Cybercrime Investigation, Summon Elon Musk

On February 3, 2026, the French offices of the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, were searched by the Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit alongside the national cyber unit of the gendarmerie and Europol. The operation is part of an ongoing investigation into potential cybercriminal activities that began in January 2025, triggered by concerns about the platform's algorithm changes and management practices since Musk's acquisition.

The inquiry was initiated following a report by Éric Bothorel, a deputy from Côtes-d'Armor, who raised serious questions about modifications to X's algorithms that allegedly led to the overrepresentation of "nauseating political content" and apparent interference with platform management. Additionally, a cybersecurity report from the public sector highlighted that altered algorithms may have distorted X's automated data processing systems.

The investigation has expanded to scrutinize the AI system Grok, developed by X, which has reportedly been exploited to generate and disseminate harmful content such as denialist material and sexual deepfakes. The prosecutor's office emphasized that Grok has been misused for producing and distributing fake pornographic videos, sometimes involving real women and minors.

Summons for voluntary hearings have been issued for Elon Musk and Linda Yacarino, identified as the de facto and de jure managers of X during the alleged incidents. The hearings are scheduled for April 20, 2026. Meanwhile, the Paris prosecutor's office has announced its intention to cease posting on X, opting instead to communicate via other social media platforms.

This high-profile investigation underscores increasing legal scrutiny on social media platforms concerning algorithmic transparency, content moderation, and AI usage in France.