Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has been summoned by French prosecutors to give a voluntary statement as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the social media platform X.

The probe focuses on allegations that the platform’s algorithm may have been used to manipulate political debate and that personal data could have been processed unlawfully for targeted advertising purposes.

French authorities launched the investigation following complaints filed by a member of parliament and a senior official from a public cybersecurity body.

The inquiry has since expanded to include content generated by the Grok chatbot, developed by Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI and integrated into X.

Grok has drawn scrutiny over reports that it generated content linked to Holocaust denial before later retracting such outputs. Additional claims suggest the chatbot may have produced inappropriate material, including content resembling child exploitation and non-consensual deepfake imagery.

The Center for Countering Digital Hate said the tool generated nearly three million sexualized images within 11 days, with tens of thousands appearing to depict minors.

Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino has also been called to provide a voluntary statement. Prosecutors noted that such procedures allow executives to present their positions and outline compliance measures.

In February, French authorities carried out a search at X’s Paris offices. The company denied all allegations, describing the investigation as “politicized” and an abuse of judicial process. Prosecutors, however, stressed that the inquiry would proceed regardless of whether those summoned choose to testify.

The investigation is not limited to France. Authorities in the United Kingdom have also launched reviews into X and xAI, while European Union institutions are examining allegations related to the production of sexually explicit deepfake content targeting women and children.

Paris prosecutors have reportedly contacted US agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, to assess whether controversies linked to Grok may have been used to artificially inflate the value of X and xAI ahead of a potential public offering.

Meanwhile, the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders filed a separate complaint, accusing the platform of systematically allowing the spread of disinformation and undermining the public’s right to access reliable information.

The developments highlight increasing global scrutiny and mounting pressure on Musk and the platforms under his control, as regulators seek to enforce compliance with national and international legal frameworks.(ILKHA)