X’s French Offices Raided in Paris Amidst Cybercrime Probe
Paris, February 3, 2026 – The French premises of the social media giant X (formerly Twitter) were searched on Tuesday, February 3, by the cybercrime section of the Paris public prosecutor’s office. This action is part of a broader investigation initiated in January 2025, following complaints from Deputy Eric Bothorel regarding alleged biased algorithms within X’s operations.
Investigation Expands to Include Deepfakes and Illicit Content
The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the investigation has been expanded to address additional reports concerning the functioning of Grok on the X platform, which have allegedly led to the dissemination of Holocaust denial content and sexually explicit deepfakes. This expansion signifies a serious turn in the legal scrutiny faced by the platform in France.
Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino Summoned for Questioning
In a significant development, summonses for voluntary hearings have been issued to Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino, in their capacities as de facto and de jure managers of the X platform, respectively. These hearings are scheduled for April 20, 2026, in Paris. According to Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, these interrogations aim to allow them to present their stance on the allegations and outline any compliance measures being considered or implemented.
Furthermore, X employees are also scheduled to be interviewed as witnesses during the week of April 20 to 24, indicating a thorough examination of the platform’s internal workings and content moderation practices.
X Denounces “Abusive Judicial Act”
In response to the raid and the summonses, X issued a statement denouncing the action as an “abusive judicial act” driven by “political motivations.” The company firmly stated that it would not be intimidated and categorically refuted having committed any infractions. X further asserted that the Paris prosecutor’s office is “manifestly attempting to exert pressure on X’s general management in the United States by targeting our French entity, which is unrelated to the alleged facts, as well as its employees, in disregard of the procedural mechanisms established by international treaties.”
Scope of the Investigation: Serious Criminal Offenses
The prosecutor’s office has detailed the criminal offenses now covered by the investigation. These include “complicity in the possession of child pornography,” “complicity in the organized dissemination, offering, or making available of child pornography,” “violation of personal image rights,” “denial of crimes against humanity,” and “administration of an illicit online platform by an organized group.” The Paris prosecutor’s office emphasized that the objective of this investigation is to “ultimately guarantee the conformity of the X platform with French laws, insofar as it operates on national territory.”
Deputy Bothorel Welcomes Investigation, Paris Prosecutor’s Office Leaves X
Deputy Eric Bothorel (Renaissance), who initiated the inquiry, welcomed the developments. He stated on X that “in Europe and particularly in France, the rule of law means that ‘no one is above the law’ and that European regulations, transposed into French law, apply to everyone.”
As a consequence of this ongoing legal procedure, the Paris prosecutor’s office has announced its departure from the X platform, directing users to its LinkedIn and Instagram accounts for official communications. This move underscores the severity of the situation and the potential implications for X’s operations in France.
The investigation highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by social media platforms regarding content moderation, algorithmic transparency, and compliance with national laws, particularly in the European Union where stricter digital regulations are being implemented.
