Elon Musk faces French probe as prosecutors deny political motives

Prosecutors in Paris have rejected claims that their investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is politically motivated, emphasising the independence of the French judiciary amid reported tensions with US authorities.

In a statement, the Paris prosecutor’s office said it had no knowledge of a reported letter from the U.S. Justice Department declining to cooperate with the probe, as cited by The Wall Street Journal.

Officials stressed that “the French constitution guarantees the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.”

The investigation, which earlier this year included searches of X’s French offices, focuses on serious allegations such as complicity in the distribution of child sexual abuse material and the creation of sexual deepfakes.

Authorities are also examining whether the platform’s algorithms distorted content visibility and whether user data was improperly collected.

Musk, who acquired X in 2022, has been summoned to appear before French investigators on April 20.

It remains unclear whether he will attend. Prosecutors said the investigation would proceed regardless of the presence of company executives.

The reported US letter described the French probe as an attempt to regulate free expression in a manner conflicting with First Amendment protections. Musk shared the report on X, commenting that the situation “needs to stop.”

The case highlights growing global scrutiny of X since Musk’s takeover, with regulators in multiple countries examining issues related to content moderation, data practices, and compliance with local laws.