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Published : 03 Feb 2026, 09:09 PM
French prosecutors widened their investigation into Elon Musk's X on Tuesday to include alleged offences linked to its artificial intelligence chatbot Grok.
These follow allegations of abuse of algorithms and fraudulent data extraction cited in an initial probe launched in January 2025.
There was no immediate comment from X.
Here is an overview of the investigations:
WHAT WAS X INITIALLY INVESTIGATED FOR?
Paris prosecutors opened an investigation on Jan 12, 2025 after receiving two complaints, including one from a French lawmaker, over allegedly biased algorithms.
The probe looked into charges of fraudulent data extraction and abuse of algorithms, and was then assigned to the police on July 9, 2025.
WHY DID FRENCH PROSECUTORS WIDEN THEIR PROBE?
After new evidence emerged in November 2025, investigators expanded the probe to include charges of complicity in possession and distribution of child-pornography images and denial of crimes against humanity.
In January 2026, following the publication of sexually explicit deepfakes generated by X's Grok, they added another charge related to the distribution of sexual material using a person's image without consent.
Prosecutors say X switched in 2025 from the SAFER child protection tool to an in-house system.
Prosecutors allege Grok enabled users to create sexualized images, including of minors and victims of the Crans-Montana fire, and to generate hate speech or content glorifying crimes against humanity.
Experts consulted by prosecutors said safeguards could have prevented this, according to the prosecutors.
Investigators also cite failures by the company to provide basic subscriber information in several hate-speech and antisemitism cases, hampering inquiries.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?
Prosecutors conducted a search at X's Paris office with the police and Europol, and said they were sharing information with prosecutors in other countries.
Investigators are currently looking into the following potential crimes:
Complicity in the possession of images of minors of a pornographic nature
Complicity in the organised distribution, offering, or making available of images of minors of a pornographic nature
Infringement of a person's image (deepfakes of a sexual nature)
Denial of crimes against humanity (Holocaust denial)
Fraudulent extraction of data from an automated data processing system by an organised group
Falsification of the operation of an automated data processing system by an organised group
Operation of an illegal online platform by an organised group
