Paris / London, February 4, 2026
French Authorities Search X’s Paris Offices
French authorities have intensified scrutiny of Elon Musk–owned social media platform X after the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit carried out a raid on the company’s offices in Paris on February 3, 2026.
The operation was conducted with support from Europol and French police, according to prosecutors. As part of the ongoing investigation, Elon Musk has also been summoned for questioning, officials confirmed.
Probe Linked to Algorithm Manipulation and Grok AI
The raid is connected to an investigation originally launched in January 2025, focusing on allegations of algorithm manipulation and fraudulent data extraction by X. Prosecutors later expanded the probe to examine the role of Grok, an AI system developed by Musk’s company xAI.
Authorities are assessing whether Grok contributed to the dissemination of:
-
Sexual deepfake content
-
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
-
Holocaust denial and other illegal content
X has strongly rejected the allegations, calling the raid a “political attack” and an “abusive act,” and insisting it has committed no wrongdoing.
UK Launches Fresh Investigation Into Grok
In a parallel development, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced on February 3 that it has opened a formal investigation into X and xAI.
The probe will examine whether Grok complies with UK data protection laws, particularly in relation to the generation of harmful sexualized images and video content.
This investigation comes in addition to an existing inquiry by Ofcom, which is assessing whether X failed to adequately prevent the spread of illegal content under the Online Safety Act.
Growing Global Backlash Over Grok’s Image Tools
The regulatory actions follow mounting international criticism of Grok’s image-generation features. Critics say the AI tool has enabled users to create non-consensual sexualized deepfakes, including depictions of women and minors, despite built-in safeguards.
Last week, the European Union opened its own inquiry into Grok. Several countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brazil, have either restricted the feature or publicly condemned its use.
Mounting Pressure on X and xAI
The coordinated actions by France, the UK, and the EU underscore growing global regulatory pressure on X and xAI over:
-
AI safety and guardrails
-
Content moderation failures
-
Data protection and privacy compliance
Regulators have signaled that further enforcement actions remain possible as investigations continue.
What Happens Next
Developments remain fluid as of February 4, 2026. Authorities in multiple jurisdictions are continuing to gather evidence, while X faces increasing scrutiny over how its platform and AI tools handle illegal and harmful content.
