Elon Musk did not appear for a scheduled court hearing in France today regarding an ongoing judicial investigation into illegal content on the social media platform X. The French Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the absence of the invited individuals but emphasized that the inquiry will proceed regardless.
The prosecutor stated that the absence of the billionaire does not constitute an obstacle to the investigation. This development follows a series of raids conducted by French authorities at X’s Paris headquarters earlier in February.
At the time of the raids, the company categorically rejected any wrongdoing, labeling the investigations as politically motivated. The French tribunal is investigating whether X has violated national legislation regarding the dissemination of child sexual abuse material.
Another core focus of the probe is the proliferation of non-consensual, AI-generated deepfakes. These sexually explicit images and videos are created without the consent of the victims, raising significant legal and ethical concerns in France.
Read more about this topic: Elon Musk summoned to Paris amid investigation into illicit content on X (with video)
The investigation has drawn criticism from the United States. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has complained that French magistrates are attempting to drag the U.S. into a politically charged case to force unwanted regulation onto a social media platform.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has also voiced his support for Musk in this matter. Durov claimed that the French administration under Emmanuel Macron is instrumentalizing criminal investigations to suppress freedom of expression and privacy.
The French Public Prosecutor’s Office maintained that the summons was intended to provide Musk with an opportunity to present his version of events. Officials reiterated that the investigation into X’s compliance with French law remains active and will continue.
