French authorities have escalated their investigation into tech billionaire Elon Musk, summoning him for a voluntary interview in Paris over allegations tied to his social media platform X. The probe centers on claims that the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok enabled the массов distribution of sexualised deepfake images, raising serious legal and ethical concerns. It remains unclear whether Musk will comply with the summons.
The investigation, launched in January 2025, initially focused on allegations that X’s algorithm may have been used to interfere in French political processes. However, it has since broadened significantly to include the dissemination of harmful AI-generated content, including Holocaust denial material and explicit deepfake imagery. French prosecutors have identified multiple potential criminal violations, including complicity in the possession of child sexual abuse material and denial of crimes against humanity.
Earlier developments saw French authorities conduct searches at X’s Paris offices in February, a move the company strongly criticized as politically motivated. Alongside Musk, former X CEO Linda Yaccarino was also summoned for questioning in her capacity as a former executive during the period under investigation. Prosecutors have emphasized that the inquiry will proceed regardless of whether those summoned choose to appear.
The controversy has intensified following findings by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which reported that Grok generated approximately three million sexualised images within just 11 days. The majority depicted women, but thousands reportedly involved minors, amplifying global alarm over the misuse of generative AI tools. The ease with which users could manipulate images through simple prompts has been cited as a major regulatory concern.
International scrutiny is mounting beyond France. Regulators in the United Kingdom have opened parallel investigations into X and its parent AI company over potential violations of data protection laws, while the European Union has also launched its own probe into the platform’s handling of AI-generated content. These actions reflect growing unease among governments about the rapid spread of unregulated artificial intelligence technologies.
As legal pressure builds, the case against Musk and X is shaping into a landmark test of accountability for AI-driven platforms. The outcome could set significant precedents for how governments regulate emerging technologies, particularly those capable of producing harmful or misleading content at scale.
