French authorities have escalated their investigation into Elon Musk and his social media platform X, officially classifying it as a criminal probe. Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have received summons to appear in France to address preliminary charges related to serious allegations, including the creation of child sexual abuse material and spreading misinformation regarding the Holocaust.
Since the investigation began in 2025, it has expanded following incidents involving Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, which reportedly made inflammatory statements and disseminated harmful content. The inquiry now focuses on Musk's potential complicity in generating sexually explicit deepfakes and other violations of French law. The process may take several months, and there is no guarantee it will result in a trial.
In recent years, Musk has been linked to significant political contributions, donating over $290 million to Republican candidates ahead of the 2024 elections. His actions have transformed X into a platform associated with far-right extremism, particularly in the context of upcoming electoral events. The implications of these developments are profound, affecting not just the platform's user base but also broader societal issues.