Headlines
Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit searches X office, Musk summoned
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 3, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 3, 2026
Quick Summary
The Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit, with Europol, is searching Musk's X office in Paris as part of a 2025 investigation.
Paris Prosecutor's Cybercrime Unit Raids X Office, Musk to Testify
Investigation Overview
By Inti Landauro and Sudip Kar-Gupta
Details of the Raid
PARIS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - French police raided the offices of Elon Musk's social media network X on Tuesday, and prosecutors ordered the tech billionaire to face questions in April related to a widening investigation into the platform, the Paris prosecutor's office said.
Allegations Against X
The raid is linked to a year-long investigation into suspected abuse of algorithms and fraudulent data extraction by X or its executives.
Response from Musk and X
However, in a statement the Paris Prosecutor's office said it was widening that investigation following complaints over the functioning of X's artificial intelligence chatbot Grok.
The probe will now also investigate alleged complicity in the detention and diffusion of images of a child‑pornographic nature and the violation of a person’s image rights with sexually explicit deepfakes, among other potential crimes.
Musk, and former CEO Linda Yaccarino, are summoned to a hearing on April 20. Other X staff are also summoned as witnesses.
There was no immediate comment from X. In July, Musk denied the initial accusations and said French prosecutors were launching a "politically-motivated criminal investigation".
"At this stage, the conduct of this investigation is part of a constructive approach, with the aim of ultimately ensuring that the X platform complies with French laws, insofar as it operates on national territory," the prosecutor's office said.
The prosecutor's cybercrime unit is conducting the investigation together with the French police's own cybercrime unit and Europol.
The Paris prosecutor's office said it launched the investigation after being contacted by a lawmaker alleging that biased algorithms in X were likely to have distorted the operation of an automated data processing system.
The prosecutor's office also said it was leaving the X social media platform and would communicate on LinkedIn and Instagram from now on. LinkedIn belongs to Microsoft and Instagram to Meta.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Sudip Kar-Gupta; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Key Takeaways
- •Paris prosecutor's office conducts search at Musk's X.
- •Investigation opened in January 2025.
- •Europol is involved in the search.
- •Search conducted by the cybercrime unit.
- •Part of a broader investigation into Musk's X.
Frequently Asked Questions about Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit searches X office, Musk summoned
1What is cybercrime?
Cybercrime refers to criminal activities that involve computers and networks. It includes hacking, identity theft, and online fraud, often targeting financial systems and personal data.
2What is an investigation?
An investigation is a systematic inquiry to uncover facts or information about a specific issue or incident, often conducted by law enforcement or regulatory agencies.
3What is Europol?
Europol is the European Union's law enforcement agency that assists member states in combating serious international crime and terrorism through information sharing and operational support.
4What is a prosecutor?
A prosecutor is a legal representative of the state who initiates and conducts legal proceedings against individuals accused of committing crimes.
5What is a cybercrime unit?
A cybercrime unit is a specialized law enforcement team focused on investigating and combating crimes that occur in cyberspace, including hacking and online fraud.
