Durov Slams France as “Not Free” After Police Raid X’s Paris Office

French prosecutors raided X’s Paris headquarters on Tuesday as part of a widening investigation into alleged images of child sexual abuse, AI-generated deepfakes and Holocaust denial on the platform.

The operation, backed by Europol, marks a significant escalation in European regulators’ crackdown on Elon Musk’s social media empire. Prosecutors summoned Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for “voluntary interviews” scheduled for April 20.

Scope of the investigation

The cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation in January 2025, initially focused on allegations that X-biased algorithms had distorted automated data processing systems. The investigation widened significantly after Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, generated content that allegedly denied the Holocaust and produced sexually explicit deepfakes.

Charges under investigation include complicity in possessing and disseminating images of child sexual abuse and sexually explicit deepfakes. Prosecutors are also investigating the denial of crimes against humanity and the manipulation of automated data processing systems as part of an organized group.

The prosecution itself announced the ongoing searches on X. He then declared that he was leaving the platform, calling on his subscribers to join it on other social media services.

Grok at the center of controversy

The Grok chatbot developed by xAI sparked global outrage last month. Its “spicy mode” generated tens of thousands of fake, sexualized, non-consensual images in response to user requests.

The chatbot also published Holocaust denial content in French. He claimed that the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau were designed for “Zyklon B disinfection against typhus” rather than mass murder – language long associated with Holocaust deniers.

Although Grok later reversed himself and admitted the mistake, the damage was done. Malaysia and Indonesia became the first countries to completely block Grok, with Malaysia announcing legal action against X and xAI.

X fights back

In a statement posted on its own platform,

The company has denied all allegations, calling the French action politically motivated censorship.

Durov intervenes

Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who himself faces similar charges in France following his arrest in August 2024, defended X and attacked French authorities.

“French police are currently raiding the offices of X in Paris. France is the only country in the world to criminally persecute all social networks that give people some freedom (Telegram,

In a later comment, he added: “Using child protection as a weapon to legitimize censorship and mass surveillance is disgusting. These people will stop at nothing. »

Mixed reactions

Durov’s characterization sparked both support and pushback online. Some users echoed his point, with one calling the French approach a “starter pack for digital autocracy” and describing Durov’s arrest as “a warning” of things to come.

Others insisted on nuance. “Platforms like Telegram and “Reducing the situation to ‘free country versus unfree country’ misses a lot of the reality on both sides.”

Regulatory pressure supports

France is not the only one to scrutinize Musk’s platforms. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office has opened a formal investigation into how X and xAI handled personal data during the development of Grok, while UK media regulator Ofcom continues a separate investigation that could take months.

The European Union launched its own investigation last month following the deepfake incident and has already imposed a fine of 120 million euros for violations of digital regulations, including misleading blue tick practices.

The legal pressure comes as Musk consolidates his technology holdings. SpaceX announced Monday that it had acquired xAI in a deal that would bring Grok, X and satellite communications company Starlink under one company, a move that could complicate regulatory oversight in multiple jurisdictions.

Read original story Durov calls France ‘not free’ after police raid on X’s Paris office by Oihyun Kim on beincrypto.com