Elon Musk has been called to appear before French prosecutors for a voluntary interview on Monday as part of an ongoing investigation into his social media platform X. The tech billionaire's attendance remains uncertain.
French authorities first launched the probe in January 2025, examining concerns about content recommendations on the platform. The investigation expanded later that year to include X's controversial AI chatbot Grok, specifically its alleged use in creating non-consensual sexual deepfake imagery.
In February, Paris prosecutors conducted raids on X's offices, investigating potential criminal offenses including complicity in distributing child sexual abuse material, infringement of image rights through sexual deepfakes, and suspected fraudulent data extraction by an organized group.
Musk has publicly criticized the investigation, labeling it a "political attack" in a social media post. Linda Yaccarino, X's former chief executive who was also summoned for questioning, echoed these sentiments, accusing French authorities of pursuing "a political vendetta against Americans."
X has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating in an official response: "Today's staged raid reinforces our conviction that this investigation distorts French law, circumvents due process, and endangers free speech. X is committed to defending its fundamental rights and the rights of its users."
The French summons comes amid international scrutiny of X's operations. Regulatory actions have been initiated against the platform and its parent company xAI in the UK, EU, and other jurisdictions worldwide.
This isn't the first time Musk has faced legal challenges. In September 2024, he failed to appear for a court-ordered deposition in Los Angeles as part of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into his acquisition of Twitter.
The U.S. Justice Department recently declined to assist French authorities with their investigation, reportedly accusing them of misusing the American justice system. Musk responded to this development on X, writing simply: "indeed, this needs to stop."
French prosecutors set the Monday interview date in February. Whether Musk will comply with the summons or follow his pattern of avoiding legal appearances remains to be seen as international pressure on his platform continues to mount.