Elon Musk Summoned by French Prosecutors over AI Chatbot Controversy

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, along with former CEO Linda Yaccarino, has been summoned to appear before the Paris prosecutor's office on April 20. This appeal is part of a larger investigation surrounding Musk's online platform, X, which is facing serious allegations related to its AI chatbot, Grok. The French authorities are expanding their inquiry following numerous complaints centering on Grok's facilitation of creating sexualized images, including the disturbing suspicion of aiding in the distribution of child pornography and the infringement of image rights through the generation of explicit deepfakes. In a move indicative of the gravity of the situation, investigators previously executed a raid on X's Paris office, supported by Europol and the French police's cybercrime unit. The investigations initiated in response to an alarming trend where users of the X platform exploited the capabilities of Grok to produce thousands of sexualized images involving real individuals, including minors. The gravity of these allegations has prompted the EU Commission to intervene, signaling a strict regulatory approach toward AI technologies. The investigation into X, particularly about the potential misuse of algorithms and data extraction practices, has been ongoing for over a year. Musk has categorically denied these charges, suggesting that the French authorities have launched a politically motivated probe against him. He asserts that such allegations are unfounded and aims to protect the integrity of his innovations. Currently, no response is available from X regarding these latest summons and continuing investigations. Furthermore, the prosecutor’s office emphasized that their investigation aims to constructively encourage compliance with French domestic laws regarding content moderation and user safety. In light of these developments, the French authorities have announced their intention to cease communications through the X platform, opting instead to engage with the public via LinkedIn and Instagram moving forward. This shift reflects a notable withdrawal from a platform that has become embroiled in controversy and underscores the serious implications of the ongoing investigations into Musk’s ventures. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2