Paris Authorities Summon Elon Musk for Questions Amid Investigation

French authorities have summoned Elon Musk to answer questions as part of an ongoing investigation into his social media platform, X. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Monday that a search took place at X’s office in the French capital. This probe focuses on concerns regarding how X’s algorithm recommends content to users and collects data.

According to the prosecutor’s office, summons for voluntary interviews were issued for April 20, 2026, to Musk and Linda Yaccarino, who served as managers of the platform during the relevant timeframe. The investigation began in January 2025, following complaints about potential political interference related to X’s content recommendations.

The search at X’s Paris office is part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with French laws. The investigation has expanded since last year, particularly after reports emerged that X allowed users to share nonconsensual, AI-generated sexually explicit imagery and content that denies the Holocaust.

Authorities have expressed concerns that the platform’s operations could violate regulations aimed at protecting users. In response, Musk and X have dismissed the French investigation, along with similar inquiries from European Union and British authorities, as politically motivated attacks on free speech. Yaccarino resigned as CEO of X in July 2023 after two years in the role.

The cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office is leading the investigation, working alongside French police and the European policing agency, Europol. A recent investigation by CBS News revealed that the Grok AI tool on X still allowed users in various regions, including the U.S., U.K., and EU, to digitally alter images of individuals without their consent. This functionality persisted despite public assurances from the company that such practices would cease.

The Grok chatbot, available through a standalone app and for premium X account holders, enabled users to modify images to display individuals in revealing attire. Following CBS News’ findings, X’s response was limited to an auto-reply from its company xAI, stating, “Legacy media lies.”

The scrutiny surrounding Grok has intensified, with the British government warning that X could face a nationwide ban if it fails to address the controversial “bikini-fy” feature. Additionally, EU regulators announced an investigation into the AI editing function in late January.

In January, X announced that it had implemented “technological measures” to prevent the Grok account from allowing users to edit images of real people in revealing clothing. This statement claimed that the restriction applied to all users, including paid subscribers. However, CBS News found that the Grok tool continued to enable such alterations weeks after the announcement.

As the investigation unfolds, the implications for X and its leadership remain significant, particularly in the context of increasing regulatory scrutiny across Europe regarding content moderation and user privacy.