Musk Misses Paris Interview As French Probe Into X Deepens
Elon Musk has failed to appear for a voluntary interview requested by French prosecutors investigating activity on his social media platform, X, according to officials in Paris.
The interview, scheduled for April 20, is part of an ongoing inquiry led by the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit. Authorities confirmed that those summoned did not attend, but stressed that their absence would not halt the investigation.
The case, initially opened in 2025, has since expanded. Prosecutors are now examining concerns around X’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, particularly its alleged use in generating non-consensual sexual deepfake content.
Investigators had earlier conducted a search of X’s offices in Paris in February as part of the probe, which covers a range of suspected offences. These include the potential distribution of illegal content, violations of image rights linked to deepfakes, and allegations of fraudulent data extraction.
Musk has previously dismissed the investigation, describing it as politically motivated. In earlier remarks posted on X, he characterised the probe as a “political attack.”
The situation has also drawn international attention. Reports indicate that the United States Department of Justice declined to assist French authorities, reportedly criticising the investigation as an improper use of the US legal system.
This is not the first time Musk has skipped an official summons. In 2024, he did not attend a court-ordered appearance in Los Angeles tied to a probe by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his acquisition of Twitter.
French authorities began scrutinising X after receiving complaints about its content recommendation systems, including allegations that its algorithm may have influenced political discourse in France. The investigation later broadened to include concerns about AI-generated material, such as Holocaust denial content and manipulated images.
The probe has triggered regulatory and legal responses in multiple jurisdictions, including across Europe and the United Kingdom.
X has denied all allegations, calling them unfounded. The company maintains that the investigation undermines legal norms and threatens free expression, adding that it will continue to defend both its platform and its users.
Former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino, who was also invited to the Paris interview, has similarly criticised the French authorities, previously describing the actions as politically driven.
