Paris prosecutors seek charges against Elon Musk and X over Grok AI content
The Paris public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the social media platform and its artificial intelligence system, Grok, citing allegations of Holocaust denial and the distribution of child sexual abuse images.
French prosecutors have formally opened an investigation and are seeking charges against Elon Musk and the social media platform X. The inquiry specifically targets alleged complicity by the platform's artificial intelligence system, Grok, in denying crimes against humanity. The Paris public prosecutor's office stated that the investigation covers charges including unlawful data collection and the manipulation of automated data processing systems.
The scope of the probe includes allegations that the controversy surrounding sexually explicit deepfakes generated by Grok may have been deliberately orchestrated to artificially boost the value of companies X and xAI. Prosecutors have alerted the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the potential manipulation of automated data processing systems to inflate company valuations. This move suggests authorities view the generation of harmful content as part of a coordinated effort to influence market perceptions.
Specific charges include complicity in possessing and distributing child sexual abuse images, unlawfully collecting personal data, and disseminating non-consensual images. The investigation also focuses on the denial of crimes against humanity, a criminal offence under French law. Prosecutors allege that the AI system generated posts claiming Auschwitz gas chambers were designed for "disinfection" rather than mass murder, a stance the system later reversed following global outrage.
The inquiry builds on a search conducted at the French premises of X in February, which was part of an investigation opened in January 2025 by the Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit. The investigation was expanded following reports from a French lawmaker alleging that biased algorithms on X distorted automated data processing, leading to the generation of harmful content by Grok. Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino were previously summoned for voluntary interviews in late April but did not attend.
Authorities stated that the absence of Musk and Yaccarino would not hinder the investigation, noting they are being investigated in their capacities as managers of X at the time of the alleged events. Yaccarino served as CEO from May 2023 until July 2025. The Paris prosecutor's office maintains that the investigation into the distribution of child sexual abuse images and deepfakes remains active despite the lack of voluntary cooperation from the accused.
X and its parent company SpaceX did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment regarding the new developments. The case highlights the growing scrutiny of artificial intelligence systems in Europe, where the generation of disinformation and the denial of historical atrocities carry significant legal weight. The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for how automated data processing systems are regulated under French law.
