...
By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
French authorities have launched a search of the social media platform X’s offices in Paris as part of a cybercrime investigation opened in January 2025, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday.
Newsweek reached out to the Paris prosecutor's office for comment via email.
A spokesperson for X branded the raid a "politicized criminal investigation," telling Newsweek: "The allegations underlying today’s raid are baseless, and X categorically denies any wrongdoing."
Read More on News
They added: "Today’s staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech. X is committed to defending its fundamental rights and the rights of its users. We will not be intimidated by the actions of French judicial authorities today."
Why It Matters
The Paris prosecutor’s office has investigated X as a platform and individual executives for alleged organized manipulation of automated systems and fraudulent data extraction, offenses that carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison under French law.
Its probe has broader implications for platform transparency, cross-border law enforcement and political discourse online amid disputes between U.S. and European officials over moderation and algorithmic accountability.
What To Know
French authorities have searched the Paris offices of social platform X and summoned Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino for voluntary questioning on April 20, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
This search and summons signals a new phase in France’s ongoing criminal investigation into X over alleged algorithm manipulation and data offenses that began in 2025, following earlier steps that empowered police to conduct searches and call company leaders to testify.
The operation is being carried out with the national cyber unit of the Gendarmerie and Europol, according to a post from the prosecutor's office on Musk's social media platform.
In the same post, the prosecutor's office announced its departure from X, saying people could find it posting on LinkedIn and Instagram instead.
It said: "A search is being carried out at the French premises of X by the cybercrime unit of the Paris public prosecutor's office, together with the National Cyber Unit of the Gendarmerie and Europol as part of the investigation opened in January 2025.
"The Paris public prosecutor's office is leaving X. Find us on Lkd and Insta."
Shortly after confirming the search, the prosecutor’s office said Musk has been summoned for a “voluntary questioning” on April 20, according to a press release from Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau reported by local media.
Former X executive Yaccarino has also been called to appear on the same date, with prosecutors describing both as the platform’s de facto and de jure managers at the time of the alleged events, per a prosecutor's office statement shared by jeanmarcmorandini.com.
Beccuau is reported to have written in her statement: "The conduct of this investigation is, at this stage, part of a constructive approach, with the objective of ultimately ensuring the compliance of platform X with French laws, insofar as it operates on national territory."
In its statement, the prosecutor’s office said the raid was part of efforts to ensure X was following French law.
The investigation, led by France’s cybercrime police, was widened in July 2025 after reports surfaced of sexually explicit deepfakes and Holocaust‑denial content circulating on the platform.
At the time, X dismissed the expanded probe as “politically‑motivated” in a post and rejected accusations that it had manipulated its algorithm.
A recent study estimated that Grok may have generated as many as three million sexualized images in an 11‑day period in January, including around 23,000 involving children, POLITICO has reported.
Separately, the European Commission has opened a fresh investigation under the EU’s online‑platform rules and has said it is also assessing whether certain apps could face a ban under the bloc’s AI legislation.
What People Are Saying
Paris prosecutor Beccuau said in her statement: "Employees of platform X are also summoned the week of April 20-24, 2026 to be heard as witnesses. The voluntary hearings of the managers should allow them to present their position on the facts and, where applicable, the compliance measures envisaged.”
A spokesperson for X: "French judicial authorities raided X’s Paris office today in connection with a politicized criminal investigation into alleged manipulation of algorithms and purported fraudulent data extraction. We are disappointed by this development, but we are not surprised. The Paris Public Prosecutor’s office widely publicized the raid—making clear that today’s action was an abusive act of law enforcement theater designed to achieve illegitimate political objectives rather than advance legitimate law enforcement goals rooted in the fair and impartial administration of justice.
"The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office is plainly attempting to exert pressure on X’s senior management in the United States by targeting our French entity and employees, who are not the focus of this investigation. The Prosecutor’s Office has ignored the established procedural mechanisms to obtain evidence in compliance with international treaties and X’s rights to defend itself. These procedural mechanisms are well known and used on a daily basis by judicial authorities around the world.
"The allegations underlying today’s raid are baseless and X categorically denies any wrongdoing. Today’s staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech. X is committed to defending its fundamental rights and the rights of its users. We will not be intimidated by the actions of French judicial authorities today."
What Happens Next
Police and the gendarmerie will continue investigative measures that could include additional searches, data requests and interviews as part of the cybercrime probe.
Any failure by X to comply with judicial data requests could expose the company to fines or obstruction charges under French law, according to prior statements by prosecutors.
Update 02/03/26, 6:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 02/03/26, 4:14 p.m. ET. This article was updated with a statement from X.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines