X Platform: French Authorities Conduct Search

X (Formerly Twitter) Faces French Inquiry, Raids, and Summons for Elon Musk and Former Executive

The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is under formal investigation in France, with authorities carrying out a search of the company’s French premises this Tuesday as part of a probe initiated in January 2025. The investigation extends to top leadership, with invitations for voluntary hearings issued to Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino, the former general director of X, scheduled for April 20, 2026.

The Paris prosecutor’s office is examining a range of serious criminal offenses, signaling a potentially significant legal challenge for the platform. Employees of X are also being summoned to provide testimony as witnesses during the week of April 20-24, 2026.

Scope of the Investigation: A Broad Range of Allegations

The investigation encompasses a disturbing array of alleged criminal activities, raising concerns about the platform’s content moderation policies and potential complicity in illegal actions. Specifically, the inquiry focuses on:

• Child Exploitation: Complicity in the possession and distribution of child pornography, including both possessing images and facilitating their organized distribution.
• Deepfake Abuse: Allegations of an “attack on the portrayal of the person” relating to the creation and dissemination of deepfakes of a sexual nature.
• Hate Speech & extremism: Investigating the “protesting of crimes against humanity,” specifically focusing on instances of negationism – the denial of established ancient atrocities.
• Data Security & Integrity: Concerns surrounding fraudulent extraction of data from X’s automated systems, as well as the falsification of data processing operations.
• Illegal Platform Administration: Allegations of administering an illegal online platform as part of an organized group.

“The breadth of these allegations suggests a systemic review of X’s operations in France,” noted one analyst.

Did you know? – France’s legal system allows for investigations to be initiated based on media reports and public concerns, even without a direct complaint from a victim. This proactive approach is being used in the X investigation.

The investigation’s focus on data security and manipulation is notably noteworthy, given increasing global scrutiny of data privacy and the potential for misuse of user information. The allegations of complicity in child exploitation are, of course, the most serious and demand immediate attention.

The outcome of this investigation could have far-reaching consequences for X, potentially leading to substantial fines, operational restrictions within France, and damage to the platform’s reputation. The hearings with Musk and Yaccarino in April 2026 will be closely watched as a critical juncture in this unfolding legal drama.

Pro tip – Content moderation is a complex issue.Platforms frequently enough balance free speech principles with legal obligations to remove illegal content, a challenge highlighted by this investigation.

Why is this happening? French authorities initiated a formal investigation into X in January 2025, prompted by concerns over the platform’s handling of illegal content and data security practices. The investigation was spurred by reports of widespread issues, including the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, and hate speech. Who is involved? The investigation centers on X (formerly Twitter), its owner Elon Musk, and former General Director Linda Yaccarino. French prosecutors are also summoning X employees for testimony. What are the allegations? The allegations are extensive, encompassing complicity in child exploitation, the creation and distribution of deepfakes, the promotion of hate speech and negationism, fraudulent data extraction, and the administration of illegal online platforms. How did it end? As of November 21, 2025, the investigation is ongoing.Musk and Yaccarino have been invited to voluntary hearings in April 2026, and the outcome remains uncertain.Potential consequences include substantial fines, operational restrictions in france, and reputational damage for X.