Elon Musk faces criminal probe in France over X and AI system Grok allegations

French prosecutors have escalated a legal investigation into X (formerly Twitter) and its owner Elon Musk, opening a criminal probe over allegations linked to content moderation failures and the platform’s artificial intelligence system, Grok.

According to the Paris public prosecutor’s office, the expanded investigation examines serious claims including the alleged distribution of child sexual abuse material, sexually explicit deepfakes, disinformation, and potential complicity in denying crimes against humanity through AI-generated outputs. 

Authorities are also probing accusations of manipulation of automated systems as part of an organised effort.

The case stems from an earlier investigation launched in early 2025, which initially focused on concerns that X’s algorithms may have been manipulated to influence political discourse in France. 

That inquiry was later widened after reports surfaced involving Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI and integrated into X, allegedly producing harmful and controversial content.

French authorities previously conducted a search of X’s Paris offices in February. Musk described the action at the time as a “political attack,” though officials said it formed part of a lawful investigation into potential criminal activity linked to the platform.

In April, Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino were summoned for voluntary questioning but did not attend. 

Prosecutors said their absence would not halt the investigation. Yaccarino served as CEO from 2023 until mid-2025.

The investigation also includes claims that Grok generated sexually explicit deepfake images in response to user prompts, sparking widespread concern over AI safety and content moderation. 

In another instance, the chatbot reportedly produced statements interpreted as Holocaust denial before later correcting itself and acknowledging historical evidence regarding Nazi atrocities at Auschwitz.

French prosecutors have further suggested the possibility that some of the controversial content may have been deliberately amplified to increase engagement or company value, a claim that could carry additional criminal implications if proven.

The inquiry continues as France expands scrutiny of major tech platforms and AI systems, particularly around misinformation, harmful content, and the legal responsibilities of companies operating large-scale social networks.