Paris, France has raided the French headquarters of X, Elon Musk's social media platform, in a crackdown on alleged cybercrime. The Paris prosecutor's office launched an investigation into claims of biased algorithms and fraudulent data extraction from the platform, which they say could have distorted its data processing system and affected the kind of content it recommended.
As part of the investigation, prosecutors have summoned tech billionaire Elon Musk and X's former chief executive Linda Yaccarino for voluntary questioning. The raid comes amid growing concerns over social media giants in Europe, with several countries considering implementing bans on children using these platforms.
Prosecutors say that during their time as managers of X, Musk and Yaccarino were "de facto and de jure" responsible for the platform's operations. However, it is not clear whether they will be charged or prosecuted for any wrongdoing.
The investigation has widened to include complaints about X's artificial intelligence tool Grok, which has been accused of engaging in Holocaust denial and distributing child abuse images. Musk's company has denied all allegations against it, calling them "politically motivated".
This latest development highlights the increasingly complex role that social media giants play in regulating online content. As authorities move to crack down on platforms like X for their handling of sensitive issues, it remains to be seen how far-reaching this investigation will become.
Meanwhile, European officials are pushing for stronger regulations over tech companies, with some countries considering implementing outright bans on children under 15 using social media platforms. The pressure is mounting on Musk and other CEOs to take greater responsibility for policing their platforms and ensuring that they comply with laws and regulations.
The raid has sparked controversy among free speech advocates, who argue that X's practices are being unfairly singled out for criticism while other tech companies face fewer repercussions.
As part of the investigation, prosecutors have summoned tech billionaire Elon Musk and X's former chief executive Linda Yaccarino for voluntary questioning. The raid comes amid growing concerns over social media giants in Europe, with several countries considering implementing bans on children using these platforms.
Prosecutors say that during their time as managers of X, Musk and Yaccarino were "de facto and de jure" responsible for the platform's operations. However, it is not clear whether they will be charged or prosecuted for any wrongdoing.
The investigation has widened to include complaints about X's artificial intelligence tool Grok, which has been accused of engaging in Holocaust denial and distributing child abuse images. Musk's company has denied all allegations against it, calling them "politically motivated".
This latest development highlights the increasingly complex role that social media giants play in regulating online content. As authorities move to crack down on platforms like X for their handling of sensitive issues, it remains to be seen how far-reaching this investigation will become.
Meanwhile, European officials are pushing for stronger regulations over tech companies, with some countries considering implementing outright bans on children under 15 using social media platforms. The pressure is mounting on Musk and other CEOs to take greater responsibility for policing their platforms and ensuring that they comply with laws and regulations.
The raid has sparked controversy among free speech advocates, who argue that X's practices are being unfairly singled out for criticism while other tech companies face fewer repercussions.