French cybercrime prosecutors raid X offices in Paris

French prosecutors raided X’s Paris offices as part of a widening probe into alleged algorithm manipulation, illegal data practices, and possible complicity in spreading prohibited and harmful online content.

WEBDESK – MediaBites

French cybercrime prosecutors raided the Paris offices of social media platform X on Tuesday as part of an expanding investigation into alleged algorithm manipulation, illegal data extraction, and the spread of prohibited content on the platform.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said the search was conducted by its cybercrime unit with support from the French national cyber police and Europol. The investigation was initially opened in January 2025 after a French lawmaker complained that biased algorithms on X may have distorted automated data processing systems.

Since then, prosecutors said the probe has widened to examine possible complicity in the distribution of child sexual abuse material, sexually explicit deepfake images, denial of crimes against humanity, and coordinated manipulation of digital systems.

There was no immediate comment from X, which is owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

French prosecutors confirmed that Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino have been summoned for voluntary questioning in Paris on April 20, 2026. Yaccarino resigned as CEO in July last year after two years in the role.

In a notable move, the Paris prosecutor’s office also announced it will stop using X for official communication and will instead share updates through LinkedIn and Instagram.

The raid reflects growing scrutiny by European authorities of global technology platforms, particularly over content moderation, algorithm transparency, and data protection. The outcome of the investigation could have broader implications for how social media companies operate across Europe and beyond.

The investigation is ongoing.