French authorities conducted a search at the Paris headquarters of a social media company, referred to as X, on Tuesday. The investigation focuses on allegations of disseminating child sexual abuse images and deepfakes. Additionally, billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, has been summoned for questioning. The British data privacy regulator is also scrutinizing X and Musk’s artificial intelligence firm xAI. This scrutiny is centered on how these entities managed personal data during the creation and deployment of Musk’s AI chatbot Grok.
Grok, developed by xAI, is a feature on X that allows users to seek information on various topics. It has faced criticism for generating sexualized deepfake content without consent. Deepfakes involve the manipulation of images, audio, or videos using advanced AI technology. Musk has publicly acknowledged the need to address issues with Grok after it provided unsatisfactory responses.
The investigation by French authorities began last year following concerns raised by a French legislator regarding biased algorithms on X. It expanded after Grok allegedly posted content denying the Holocaust and spreading sexually explicit deepfakes, which are considered criminal offenses in France. The inquiry now includes allegations of involvement in the possession and dissemination of pornographic images of minors, denial of crimes against humanity, and manipulation of data processing systems.
SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company, recently acquired xAI, a move that will integrate Grok, X, and Starlink, Musk’s satellite communication venture. The ongoing investigation in France involves voluntary interviews with Musk, former X CEO Linda Yaccarino, and X employees. The Paris prosecutors’ office emphasized its commitment to ensuring that X complies with French laws.
X has defended itself against the allegations, asserting that the French authorities are targeting its French division and employees to pressure its U.S.-based management. Musk characterized the investigation as a political attack. Meanwhile, investigations into X and Grok are also underway in Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the UK, focusing on privacy violations and the misuse of personal data.
The European Union has initiated investigations into nonconsensual deepfake content, resulting in a substantial fine imposed on X for regulatory infractions. The company faced penalties for deceptive design practices, including the misuse of blue checkmarks to indicate verified accounts, which could expose users to scams and manipulation.
