French Prosecutors Summon Musk, Yaccarino in X Investigation

French prosecutors have summoned Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino for voluntary interviews in Paris as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct on the social media platform X, including the dissemination of child mistreatment material and explicit deepfake content. The interviews are scheduled to begin on Monday for Musk, with other X employees set to appear as witnesses later in the week, according to the Paris prosecutors office.

The probe, launched in January 2025 by the cybercrime unit of the prosecutors office, initially stemmed from reports by a French lawmaker alleging that biased algorithms on X distorted an automated data processing system, potentially interfering in French politics. It later expanded to examine claims of complicity in possessing and spreading pornographic images of minors, explicit deepfakes, denial of crimes against humanity, and manipulation of data systems as part of an organized group. In February, authorities conducted a search at Xs offices in Paris, prompting the summons for Musk and Yaccarino, who served as the platforms de facto and de jure managers during the relevant period. Yaccarino held the CEO position from May...