French authorities have launched a deeper investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X, focusing on suspected abuse of algorithms and illegal data collection. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Friday that the case has now been handed over to the police for formal inquiry.
This development puts more pressure on Musk, who has openly supported right-wing political parties in France, Germany, and the UK, and has frequently accused European governments of suppressing free speech.
According to Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the investigation follows complaints received in January from a French lawmaker and a senior government official, alleging that X was involved in foreign interference.
After a review of early findings from French researchers and public institutions, prosecutors on July 9 officially asked police to investigate X, both as a company and through its executives.
The suspected crimes include: “Organised interference with the functioning of an automated data processing system.”, “Organised fraudulent extraction of data from an automated system.”
If the police find enough evidence, they could: Summon Musk or his executives for questioning.
Search company offices, monitor communications, or even issue arrest warrants if cooperation is refused.
This investigation could widen the growing divide between Washington and European governments over how social media platforms should be regulated — particularly regarding freedom of speech and data privacy.
Musk, a former close ally of Donald Trump, has recently distanced himself from the U.S. President over disagreements on the federal budget and is now said to be forming his own political party.
The case mirrors France’s ongoing legal battle with Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who was placed under judicial supervision last year after being arrested on organized crime allegations. Durov denies any wrongdoing.
Musk had previously criticized Durov’s arrest, saying it was part of a broader crackdown on digital freedom in Europe. His own platform X, known for its lenient moderation policies, has often clashed with European regulators over issues like hate speech, disinformation, and user data protection.
X has not yet released an official statement about the latest investigation.
