French authorities carried out a high-profile raid on the Paris offices of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, as part of a widening criminal investigation into how the company operates in France and the wider European Union. The move reflects growing pressure on major technology companies to comply with national laws related to online safety, data use, and the spread of illegal content.
According to French prosecutors, the investigation began after complaints were raised about how X manages content and uses automated systems. Over time, the scope of the inquiry expanded to include concerns about the platform’s algorithms, data handling practices, and the role of artificial intelligence tools linked to the service. The raid was carried out by France’s cybercrime unit with support from other law enforcement agencies.
Prosecutors said the search was conducted to collect documents and digital material that could help determine whether any laws had been broken. They emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that no formal criminal charges have been filed so far. French officials also stressed that the action was taken within the framework of existing laws and was not intended as a political statement.
The case has drawn particular attention because it involves allegations related to harmful online content. Authorities are examining whether the platform did enough to prevent or remove illegal material, including content banned under French law. This includes extremist material, hate speech, and certain types of manipulated or artificial content created using advanced digital tools.
Artificial intelligence has become a central issue in the investigation. X has recently integrated AI-driven features designed to generate and summarize content. Regulators are now asking whether these tools were properly controlled and whether they could have contributed to the spread of harmful or illegal material. French law places strict obligations on platforms to act quickly when such content is identified.
The company has strongly criticized the raid. Representatives of X described the action as excessive and argued that the company is being unfairly targeted. Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, publicly described the investigation as politically motivated and said X is committed to defending free expression while following the law. The company maintains that it has systems in place to respond to illegal content and cooperate with authorities.
The French government has rejected claims of political bias. Officials insist the case is about enforcing the law equally and ensuring that large digital platforms do not operate above.
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