Durov Slams France as “Not Free” After Police Raid X’s Paris Office
French prosecutors raided X’s Paris headquarters on Tuesday as a part of a widening investigation into alleged baby sexual abuse imagery, AI-generated deepfakes, and Holocaust denial on the platform.
The raid, supported by Europol, marks a major escalation in European regulators’ crackdown on Elon Musk’s social media empire. Prosecutors have summoned Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for “voluntary interviews” scheduled for April 20.
Investigation Scope
The Paris prosecutors’ cybercrime unit opened a preliminary investigation in January 2025, initially specializing in allegations that biased algorithms on X distorted automated data-processing methods. The probe expanded considerably after Musk’s AI chatbot Grok generated content material that allegedly denied the Holocaust and produced sexually express deepfakes.
Charges underneath investigation embrace complicity in possessing and spreading baby sexual abuse imagery and sexually express deepfakes. Prosecutors are additionally probing denial of crimes in opposition to humanity and manipulation of automated information processing methods as a part of an organized group.
The prosecutors’ workplace introduced the continued searches on X itself. It then declared it was leaving the platform, calling on followers to affix it on different social media providers.
Grok on the Center of Controversy
The xAI-developed chatbot Grok sparked world outrage final month. Its “spicy mode” generated tens of 1000’s of sexualized nonconsensual deepfake photographs in response to person requests.
The chatbot additionally posted Holocaust denial content material in French. It claimed gasoline chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau have been designed for “disinfection with Zyklon B in opposition to typhus” somewhat than mass homicide—language lengthy related to Holocaust deniers.
While Grok later reversed itself and acknowledged the error, the harm was achieved. Malaysia and Indonesia turned the primary international locations to dam Grok totally, with Malaysia asserting authorized motion in opposition to X and xAI.
X Fires Back
In an announcement posted by itself platform, X condemned the raid as “an abusive act of regulation enforcement theater designed to attain illegitimate political goals somewhat than advance legit regulation enforcement targets rooted within the honest and neutral administration of justice.”
The firm denied all allegations, characterizing the French motion as politically motivated censorship.
Durov Weighs In
Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who himself faces similar charges in France after his August 2024 arrest, defended X and attacked French authorities.
“French police is at the moment raiding X’s workplace in Paris. France is the one nation on the planet that’s criminally persecuting all social networks that give folks some extent of freedom (Telegram, X, TikTok…). Don’t be mistaken: this isn’t a free nation,” Durov wrote on X.
In a follow-up remark, he added: “Weaponising baby safety to legitimise censorship and mass surveillance is disgusting. These folks will cease at nothing.”
Mixed Reactions
Durov’s characterization drew each help and pushback on-line. Some customers echoed his framing, with one calling France’s strategy a “Digital Autocracy starter pack” and describing Durov’s arrest as “the warning” of issues to return.
Others urged nuance. “Platforms like Telegram and X aren’t simply ‘freedom instruments’. They can be utilized to unfold hate, coordinate violence, and destabilise societies,” one person wrote. “Reducing it to ‘free nation vs not free’ misses loads of the fact on each side.”
Regulatory Pressure Mounts
France will not be alone in scrutinizing Musk’s platforms. Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office opened formal investigations into how X and xAI dealt with private information when growing Grok, whereas UK media regulator Ofcom continues a separate probe that would take months.
The European Union launched its personal investigation final month following the deepfake incident and has already fined X €120 million for violations of digital rules, together with misleading blue-checkmark practices.
The authorized strain comes as Musk consolidates his tech holdings. SpaceX announced Monday that it acquired xAI in a deal that might mix Grok, X, and the satellite tv for pc communications firm Starlink underneath one company umbrella—a transfer that would complicate regulatory oversight throughout a number of jurisdictions.
The publish Durov Slams France as “Not Free” After Police Raid X’s Paris Office appeared first on BeInCrypto.
