The owner of the social media platform X, Elon Musk, reacted sharply after a raid carried out a day earlier at the company’s offices in France, describing it as an arbitrary action by the judiciary driven by political motives. In a post published on X’s Global Government Affairs page, Musk accused the Paris Prosecutor’s Office of pursuing “illegal political objectives” and of giving the case excessive public exposure.
French authorities, however, firmly rejected the accusations. The official “French Response” account of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on X labeled Musk’s statements as “political theater,” clarifying that the investigation concerns child sexual abuse material and not political interference.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office has summoned Elon Musk to testify on April 20, following the launch of an investigation based on a complaint filed by a French member of parliament. According to the complaint, biased or malicious algorithms on platform X may have influenced the functioning of automated data-processing systems.
The investigation has since been expanded and includes serious allegations, such as complicity in the possession or distribution of child sexual abuse material, dissemination by organized groups, sexually explicit deepfake content, and incitement to the denial of criminal offenses.
In an official statement, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office emphasized that the investigation is being conducted within a constructive framework, aimed at ensuring that platform X complies with French law. The on-site inspection was carried out in the presence of representatives from Europol.
