French cybercrime authorities, accompanied by the EU’s police agency Europol, conducted a search of the social media network X’s offices in France on Tuesday. The action is part of a widening investigation into whether the platform’s algorithm was used to interfere in French politics.
The French investigation, which was initiated in January 2025, followed two official complaints. One complaint was filed by Eric Bothorel, a member of President Emmanuel Macron’s party, citing “reduced diversity of voices and options” and alleging personal interference by owner Elon Musk in the platform’s management.
The probe was later expanded after additional reports raised concerns about the company’s AI chatbot, Grok, and its role in disseminating Holocaust denials and sexual deepfakes. As part of this investigation, French prosecutors have summoned Elon Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for a voluntary interview scheduled for April 2026.
Adding to the company’s challenges, the UK’s data regulator announced on Tuesday that it has opened its own investigation into X. The British probe will focus on the platform’s handling of sexualized AI-generated imagery.
In January 2025, the France director of X, Laurent Buanec, responded to the initial investigation by stating that the platform had “strict, clear and public rules” to protect against hate speech and disinformation.
An X platform investigation is intensifying in Europe as authorities in both France and the United Kingdom have launched formal probes into the social media giant’s operations. In France, the focus is on potential algorithmic interference in national politics and the spread of harmful content, prompting a physical search of the company’s Paris offices. This multi-faceted inquiry highlights growing concerns over the influence and management of the platform under Elon Musk.
The legal and regulatory pressure on the company is mounting from multiple fronts. The X platform investigation by French authorities, which began in 2025, now includes a summons for its top leadership. Simultaneously, the UK’s data regulator is addressing the proliferation of harmful AI-generated content, signaling a broader European effort to hold the platform accountable for content moderation and its impact on public discourse.
Citing multiple media sources.
News.iq
