PARIS, April 21 \u2014 \u200bTech billionaire Elon Musk on Monday did not appear at a summons for questioning in a French probe into X and its AI chatbot, Grok, over alleged abuse of algorithms and fraudulent data \u200cextraction, the Paris prosecutor\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n
The investigation, which has been expanded in past months to include suspected complicity in \u200bthe distribution of child pornography and the creation of sexual deepfakes by Grok, has added to strains in relations between the US and Europe over Big Tech and free speech.<\/p>\n
The April 20 summons date was set in February, when the Paris prosecutor\u2019s cybercrime unit raided the French office of \u200bMusk\u2019s social-media platform, X.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe prosecutor\u2019s office notes the absence of the first individuals who were summoned. Their presence or absence does not hinder the continuation of the investigation,\u201d the prosecutor\u2019s statement said, without mentioning Musk by name.<\/p>\n
While attendance at Monday\u2019s hearing was mandatory, the authorities at this stage could not compel Musk, the world\u2019s richest person, to appear. Reuters could not reach representatives for Musk ahead of the summons. In July, Musk denied the initial accusations and said French \u200cprosecutors were launching a \u201cpolitically-motivated criminal investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
X has come under scrutiny from regulators and governments in several countries since Musk\u2019s 2023 takeover \u2060of the platform, previously known as Twitter, with authorities examining issues including \u2060content moderation, data practices and compliance with local laws. Prosecutors have said the French investigation \u2060centres on allegations that X\u2019s algorithms distorted \u2060the treatment of content on the \u2060platform, that it improperly extracted user data and that it violated individuals\u2019 rights with sexually explicit deepfakes.<\/p>\n
In a sign of the potential for the investigation to worsen already tense relations with Washington, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that the US \u2060Justice Department sent a letter to the Paris prosecutor saying it would not cooperate in the probe, which it viewed as politically motivated.<\/p>\n
The Paris prosecutor said it had no knowledge of such a letter, and added that \u201cthe French constitution guarantees the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Musk had been summoned for a \u201cvoluntary interview\u201d \u2013 requested when authorities want to question someone without arresting that person. Prosecutors have no authority to use force to compel the person to appear, but if the \u2060person fails to respond to the summons, they may decide to place them in police custody.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is preferable to justify one\u2019s refusal and ensure that it is not perceived as an obstacle to the investigation,\u201d said criminal defence \u2060lawyer Julia Bombardier. \u201cFor example, by ensuring that certain representatives are interviewed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino and several other X staff have also \u2060been summoned as \u2060witnesses for questioning.<\/p>\n
The French cybercrime unit leading the X investigation unit previously arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov in 2024 over charges including complicity in \u200borganised crime carried out on the messaging app, charges his lawyer has described \u200bas \u201cabsurd.\u201d<\/p>\n
Durov posted on X early Monday morning that \u201cFrance is losing \u200clegitimacy as it weaponizes criminal investigations to suppress free speech and privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
US President \u200bDonald Trump has often accused Europe of treating \u200bUS big tech companies unfairly through the use of fines, taxes and regulation.\u00a0 \u2014 Reuters<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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