French authorities have conducted a high-profile raid on the Paris offices of X (formerly Twitter) as part of a criminal investigation into the platform’s role in facilitating the spread of illegal content. The probe centers on allegations that X’s AI chatbot, Grok, has been used to generate non-consensual sexual imagery, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Summons for Tech Leadership
In addition to the physical search conducted by the Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit, voluntary summons have been issued to:
Elon Musk: Owner and "de facto" manager of X.
Linda Yaccarino: Former CEO of X (who resigned in July 2025).
Several former and current employees: Summoned as witnesses to testify regarding the platform’s compliance and algorithmic safeguards.
Political Motives or Legal Enforcement?
Legal representatives for X and Elon Musk have characterized the raid as "law enforcement theater" with "illegitimate political objectives." They argue the investigation is an attempt to intimidate senior management and distort the impartial administration of justice.
Joining the criticism is Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram who himself was detained by French authorities in 2024. Durov publicly stated that France is becoming a country that "oppresses social networks that give people freedom," suggesting that the nation can no longer be considered a truly free society.
An International Crackdown on Grok
France is not the only nation taking action. The UK’s Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have also launched urgent investigations into X under the UK’s Online Safety Act. British regulators are coordinating closely with French authorities to determine if X implemented necessary safeguards to prevent the generation of harmful intimate images.
- This raid comes under pressure from the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that large platforms be strictly accountable for illegal content. If it's proven that X neglected to control Grok, it could face massive fines, up to 6% of its global revenue.
- Grok's key feature is its "uncensored" (anti-woke/unfiltered) AI, but this freedom has become a double-edged sword as users have discovered loopholes allowing the AI to generate "non-consensual deepfakes," or manipulated images of minors a serious criminal offense in almost every country.
- Although France has issued a summons for Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino, it's practically difficult to compel them to appear in Paris. However, if they ignore it, it could affect X's legal standing in Europe and potentially lead to a European Arrest Warrant if they enter the EU in the future.
- France is known as one of the toughest countries in Europe in dealing with big tech (e.g., the arrest of Pavel Durov in the past). This move serves as a warning to tech companies worldwide that freedom of expression must not violate child security and safety laws.
France Outlaws Teams and Zoom for Government Use: A Bold Move Toward Digital Sovereignty
Source: BBC
No comments:
Post a Comment