{"id":2600137,"date":"2026-05-07T21:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T01:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/french-authorities-elevate-musk-and-x-investigation-to-criminal-inquiry\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T21:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T01:08:50","slug":"french-authorities-elevate-musk-and-x-investigation-to-criminal-inquiry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/french-authorities-elevate-musk-and-x-investigation-to-criminal-inquiry\/","title":{"rendered":"French authorities elevate Musk and X investigation to criminal inquiry"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffrench-authorities-elevate-musk-and-x-investigation-to-criminal-inquiry%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2600137&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>France says it has escalated its criminal inquiry into X and its billionaire owner, Elon Musk, by filing an introductory indictment on nine charges filed this week. Prosecutors cite conduct involving the creation and distribution of sexual deepfakes generated through Grok, X\u2019s chatbot-allegedly including imagery of minors and related distribution offenses by an organized group. The case also includes charges tied to holocaust denial, which prosecutors say was enabled by grok.<\/p>\n<p>Musk was summoned for a voluntary interview last month but did not attend, and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino-who now leads a telehealth company-also skipped the interview.The investigation, which began in January 2025 and later expanded, previously included allegations that X\u2019s algorithms interfered in French politics. French authorities also raided X\u2019s Paris office in February, and France reportedly faced refusal from the U.S. department of Justice to assist.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors warn that if Musk and Yaccarino do not comply with upcoming demands, they could be served warrants.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/france\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"387\">France<\/a> is ramping up its investigation into X owner <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1412\">Elon Musk<\/a> and his social media platform by announcing a slew of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/browns-qb-deshaun-watson-given-six-game-suspension-after-sexual-misconduct-accusations\/\" title=\"Browns QB Deshaun Watson Given Six-game Suspension After Sexual Misconduct Accusations\">criminal charges pertaining<\/a> to multiple scandals.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tribunal-de-paris.justice.fr\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-05\/2026-05-07%20-%20CP%20ouverture%20d%27information%20sur%20X.pdf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.tribunal-de-paris.justice.fr\/sites\/default\/files\/2026-05\/2026-05-07%20-%20CP%20ouverture%20d%27information%20sur%20X.pdf\">press release<\/a> on Thursday, the Paris Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office said an introductory indictment was filed on nine charges the day before. The first charge is for \u201ccomplicity in the possession of images of a minor of a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >pedo-pornographic nature<\/a>, as well as the dissemination, offering, or making available \u2014 by an organized group \u2014 of images of a minor of a pornographic nature,\u201d according to the office.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4559580\/fbi-lone-actor-austin-bar-shooting-iran-war\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>FBI suggests \u2018lone actor\u2019 carried out deadly Austin bar shooting over Iran war<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4559549\/man-accused-ilhan-omar-liquid-attack-pleads-guilty-14-month-sentence\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Man accused of Ilhan Omar liquid attack pleads guilty, may <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-suggests-lone-actor-carried-out-austin-bar-shooting-over-iran-war\/\" title=\"FBI suggests &#039;lone actor&#039; carried out Austin bar shooting over Iran war\">face 14-month sentence<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4559257\/new-york-budget-agreement-first-ban-3d-printed-ghost-gun\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>New York budget agreement establishes first ban on 3D-printed ghost guns<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>French authorities are referring to the dissemination of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrat-seeks-doj-investigation-into-al-generated-robocalls-impersonating-biden\/\" title=\"House Democrat calls for DOJ probe into AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden\">sexually explicit deepfakes<\/a> by Grok, the built-in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/artificial-intelligence\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1658\">artificial intelligence<\/a> chatbot for X, in recent months. Grok had been used to generate sexualized images of women and children without their consent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Musk has insisted the controversy was handled, but France feels otherwise.<\/p>\n<p>That is why French prosecutors summoned Musk to answer questions last month. Ultimately, he did not attend the voluntary interview. The same was true of former X CEO Linda Yaccarino, who leads a telehealth company after resigning from the social media company last year.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation, launched in January 2025, initially concerned allegations that X\u2019s algorithm interfered in French politics and was later expanded to include more recent controversies plaguing X. In addition to the sexual deepfakes, allegations of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/holocaust\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"996\">Holocaust<\/a> denialism were also brought against X.<\/p>\n<p>Among the new criminal charges is denial of crimes against humanity, which was facilitated by Grok. The criminal offenses were only suspected before the indictment.<\/p>\n<p>French officials <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4444020\/x-offices-raided-in-paris-part-of-grok-investigation\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4444020\/x-offices-raided-in-paris-part-of-grok-investigation\/\">raided X\u2019s Paris office<\/a> in February, leading Musk to accuse the European country of leading a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bokhari-trump-white-houses-weapon-against-deep-state-saboteurs-rattles-establishment-media\/\" title=\"Bokhari: Trump White House&#039;s Weapon Against Deep State Saboteurs Rattles Establishment Media\">politically motivated investigation<\/a> into the U.S.-based business. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Department of Justice<\/a> reportedly felt the same way, rebuffing France\u2019s request to assist in the investigation.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4535814\/elon-musk-skips-voluntary-interview-french-investigation-x-grok\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4535814\/elon-musk-skips-voluntary-interview-french-investigation-x-grok\/\">ELON MUSK SKIPS VOLUNTARY INTERVIEW FOR FRENCH INVESTIGATION INTO X AND GROK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen what happens next in the judicial investigation. But if Musk and Yaccarino don\u2019t comply with the latest summons request, they will be served a warrant.<\/p>\n<p>Musk has been extremely vocal on social media about the case, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/clashreport\/status\/2035464779024810091\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/clashreport\/status\/2035464779024810091\">once calling<\/a> French prosecutors leading the investigation \u201cmentally retarded.\u201d As of Thursday night, the billionaire did not appear to comment on the latest development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>France charges Elon Musk over crimes linked to X and deepfakes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2600138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25191438087297.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[59997,4250,70557],"class_list":["post-2600137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-french-authorities","tag-musk","tag-x-twitter"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25191438087297.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2600137"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2600146,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600137\/revisions\/2600146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2600138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2600137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2600137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2600137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}