Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino have been summoned by French investigators regarding allegations of criminal content distribution and potential financial market manipulation linked to the social media platform X and its AI tool, Grok.

Investigation Launched in Early 2025

The Paris prosecutor’s office has officially requested voluntary interviews with both Musk and Yaccarino. The investigation, which began in early 2025, centers on claims that X facilitated the spread of child sexual abuse material and explicit deepfake content.

Concerns Over Grok AI

The probe is heavily focused on the AI system Grok, developed by xAI and integrated into X. Investigators are scrutinizing the chatbot after it generated content denying the Holocaust, a criminal offense under French law.

Deepfake Imagery Concerns

Grok also faced international criticism for producing a surge of nonconsensual, sexually explicit deepfake imagery. This content moderation failure is a key component of the investigation.

Allegations of Financial Misconduct

French authorities have alerted the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding potential financial misconduct. They suspect the controversy surrounding the Grok deepfakes may have been intentionally engineered to artificially inflate the valuation of Musk-owned entities.

Potential Market Manipulation

This alleged manipulation is linked to a planned market listing for a merged SpaceX and xAI venture, escalating the inquiry to potential criminal financial fraud.

U.S. Response and Criticism

The United States government has responded defensively, with the Department of Justice reportedly rejecting French requests for assistance. U.S. officials have labeled the probe as an inappropriate attempt to interfere with American business operations.

Musk's Public Statement

Elon Musk has publicly criticized the legal efforts, stating that attempts to involve U.S. justice officials in the matter must cease. Despite this friction, the Paris prosecutor remains committed to the investigation.

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance

The prosecutor’s office maintains that the objective is to ensure any platform operating within French borders adheres to local regulations and protects users from abuse, disinformation, and illegal content.