In an escalation reflecting the deep rift between French judicial authorities and tech giants, the Paris public prosecutor's office announced on Tuesday its official withdrawal from the "X" platform (formerly Twitter). This symbolic and impactful decision followed a series of stringent legal actions targeting the platform's offices in France, including thorough searches conducted by specialized cybercrime units.
Background of the conflict and extensive investigations
The decision to leave was not made on the spur of the moment, but rather was the culmination of a long investigation that began in early January 2025. In its farewell message on the platform, the prosecution indicated that the offices of "X" had been subjected to extensive searches carried out by the National Cybercrime Unit of the French Gendarmerie, in close coordination with Europol. This international cooperation reflects the seriousness of the accusations against the platform, which go beyond mere regulatory violations to touch upon sensitive criminal matters.
The investigations center on suspicions of serious violations, including complicity in the possession and distribution of child pornography, the spread of sexually explicit deepfakes, and the allowance of Holocaust denial content. Complaints filed by French lawmakers also addressed "algorithmic bias," alleging that the algorithms of the platform, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, were designed in a way that negatively impacts content neutrality and the platform's overall performance.
Elon Musk summoned: A sharp legal turn
In a significant development in the case, French prosecutor Laure Picaud confirmed that the platform's de facto owner, Elon Musk, and former CEO Linda Iaccarino have been summoned to appear before a judge for questioning. The hearings are scheduled for April 20-24, 2026, and they will be questioned as the legal and de facto directors of the platform during the period in which the alleged violations occurred. Picaud explained that these voluntary hearings will give the executives an opportunity to clarify their positions and propose measures to ensure compliance with French and European laws.
"X" reactions and the international context
For its part, the X platform launched a counterattack, describing the French actions as "politically motivated" and "showy." The platform's international governmental affairs team stated that the raids promoted by the prosecutor's office were baseless, categorically denying any legal wrongdoing.
These developments come at a time when Musk's companies are facing increasing global scrutiny. The UK's data regulator has also announced an investigation into the artificial intelligence company "xAI" and its "Groc" program, on the grounds of generating inappropriate images, indicating that the legal pressure surrounding the practices of major technology companies is taking on a coordinated international character to ensure the safety of the digital space.
