Elon Musk skips Paris summons in probe into X and Grok

Tech billionaire Elon Musk did not appear for questioning in Paris on Monday as part of an ongoing French investigation into his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok, prosecutors said.

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that those summoned for voluntary interviews were absent but emphasised that their non-attendance would not hinder the investigation’s progress.

The probe, launched in January 2025 and expanded in recent months, is examining a range of allegations, including misuse of algorithms, improper data extraction and the dissemination of illegal content. 

Authorities are also investigating suspected complicity in the spread of child sexual abuse material and the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes linked to the platform.

Monday’s summons followed a February raid by the cybercrime unit on X’s offices in France. 

While attendance at the hearing was described as mandatory, French authorities currently lack the power to compel Musk — who is based outside the country — to appear at this stage.

Musk has previously rejected the accusations, calling the investigation “politically motivated.” 

Representatives for the company did not respond to requests for comment ahead of the scheduled appearance.

The case adds to growing tensions between European regulators and major US technology firms over issues such as content moderation, user data practices and compliance with local laws.

French prosecutors have said the investigation is focused on whether X’s algorithms distorted content visibility, whether user data was improperly collected and whether individuals’ rights were violated through the spread of harmful AI-generated material.

The inquiry remains ongoing as authorities continue gathering evidence and testimony.