IN THE U.S., ELON MUSK HELPED ELECT A PRESIDENT. IN FRANCE. HE'S NOW A CRIMINAL SUSPECT FOR ELECTION INTERFERENCE
France Opens Criminal Investigation Into Elon Musk Over Alleged X Algorithm Manipulation
French authorities have escalated an ongoing inquiry into Elon Musk and his social media platform X into a full criminal investigation, focusing on claims of political interference and harmful AI-generated content.
The probe, led by prosecutors in France, centers on allegations that the platform’s algorithm may have been manipulated in ways that could influence political discourse in the country. Investigators are also examining content generated by Grok, the AI chatbot linked to X, including reports of illegal material such as Holocaust denial content and sexually explicit deepfakes.
The investigation began in early 2025 after a formal complaint was filed by a member of parliament from the Renaissance party, Éric Bothorel, along with a senior civil servant. It later expanded following additional concerns raised by authorities about platform activity.
In February 2026, French police reportedly conducted a raid on X’s Paris offices as part of the investigation. Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino were invited for voluntary interviews in April 2026 but did not appear, which prosecutors cited in their decision to escalate the case.
X has rejected the allegations, calling the investigation politically motivated and stating it is not cooperating with the inquiry.
The case is being closely watched across Europe as one of the most significant legal actions involving a major technology executive and questions around platform governance, algorithmic control, and AI-generated content.
Sources: CNBC, France 24, Euronews, Reuters, Lawfare, The Record