Durov criticizes France for "not being free," police raid X Paris office sparking a global regulatory storm

French prosecutors raided X’s offices in Paris on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the platform’s alleged dissemination of child abuse images, generation of explicit deepfake content, and denial of the Holocaust. The operation was assisted by Europol and is seen as a significant escalation of European pressure on Musk’s social media ecosystem. Prosecutors have requested that Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino appear for voluntary questioning on April 20.

The investigation was initially launched in January 2025, focusing on whether the platform’s algorithms exhibited systemic bias. Later, the scope expanded rapidly after XAI’s chatbot Grok was accused of generating Holocaust denial content and a large number of unauthorized deepfake images, involving multiple charges including conspiracy to distribute illegal content and manipulate automated systems.

Grok has recently become a focal point of public debate. Its “Explosive Mode” is alleged to have generated tens of thousands of sexually explicit fake images and posted controversial historical statements in French-language environments. Although officials later retracted and apologized, some countries have already taken measures to block or pursue legal action.

X issued a statement claiming that the raid was a politically motivated show of law enforcement and denied all allegations. Meanwhile, Telegram founder Pavel Durov publicly spoke out in support of X, stating that France is conducting criminal crackdowns on multiple social platforms and that such actions are not true freedom. He also accused authorities of “using the guise of protecting children to pave the way for widespread censorship.”

This statement has sparked intense debate. Supporters see it as a warning for digital freedom, while critics point out that platforms can also be used to spread hate and illegal content, and regulation is not simply suppression.

France is not alone. The UK and the EU have also launched investigations into Musk’s related businesses and imposed hefty fines for violations of digital regulations. As the integration of SpaceX, xAI, and Starlink progresses, cross-border regulatory battles are expected to become more complex, signaling that global tech governance is entering a more intense phase.