tech
French prosecutors escalate probe of Elon Musk and X to criminal investigation
France is investigating whether Elon Musk and his social media app X were complicit in spreading harmful AI deepfakes.
TL;DR
- French cybercrime authorities have escalated an investigation of Elon Musk and X to a criminal probe.
- The probe focuses on allegations of algorithmic manipulation and the spread of Holocaust denial and nonconsensual deepfake images.
- Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino were summoned but did not appear.
- Musk previously called the probe a "political attack."
- Grok, an AI chatbot developed by Musk's xAI, is integrated into X and Tesla vehicles.
- Other international jurisdictions and the California attorney general's office are also investigating X and Grok.
- The U.S. Department of Justice reportedly declined to assist French authorities, accusing them of inappropriate interference.