Elon Musk summoned in France to show up over deepfakes on X, Grok probe

Elon Musk failed to appear for a voluntary interview with Paris prosecutors on Monday regarding an investigation into his social media platform X and AI chatbot Grok. The summons, issued in February, is part of a probe that began in January 2025, initially focusing on allegations that X's algorithm interfered in French politics. The investigation has since expanded to include the dissemination of Holocaust denial and sexual deepfakes allegedly generated by Grok. Prosecutors acknowledged Musk's absence but stated it would not impede the ongoing investigation. Musk had previously criticized French authorities on X.

French prosecutors summoned Elon Musk for an interview as part of a probe into his social media platform X, but he failed to attend on Monday. The investigation began in January 2025 after reports highlighted concerns about X's recommended content, including allegations that its algorithm interfered in French politics. The probe was widened due to issues with Grok, a content generation tool used by X, which included the dissemination of Holocaust denial and non-consensual sexual deepfakes. Musk had previously failed to attend a court-ordered appearance in Los Angeles in September 2024 as part of an investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Musk responded to a report on his platform's failure to comply with summons, stating "indeed, this needs to stop". The incident has increased scrutiny over X and its handling of user-generated content.

Elon Musk has been summoned to Paris by French prosecutors for a voluntary interview regarding allegations of misconduct related to the social media platform X. The summons comes as part of an investigation into child sexual abuse material and deepfake content on the platform, which was initiated in January 2025. Linda Yaccarino, the former CEO of X, has also been invited for an interview. Other employees of the platform are scheduled to be heard as witnesses throughout this week. The investigation is aimed at ensuring compliance with French law, particularly regarding the operation of X within the national territory. Musk and Yaccarino's travel plans to Paris remain unclear.