France launched an investigation in 2025 to determine whether
according to wall street Journal, Musk And former CEO Linda Yaccarino has been asked to fly to France to face preliminary charges. As the Journal points out, after initial charges are filed in France, an investigating magistrate begins a process that can take months and does not necessarily mean a trial will take place. It’s entirely possible that the case may ultimately be dismissed.
According to the Associated Press, French authorities are investigating Musk’s “consent” in creating sexually explicit deepfakes and sexually exploitative images of minors. Grok also allegedly spread misinformation in French, including the claim that Auschwitz was not a death camp during the Holocaust but was instead used for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus”.
Musk bought Twitter in late 2022 and changed the name to X. The billionaire made several changes to the platform, removing security measures that let people know when an account had been verified, and inviting back far-right people who had previously been banned. Musk welcomed several other users, such as white supremacist Nick Fuentes and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Musk manipulated the site to such an extent that it became a hub for far-right extremism and pro-Trump propaganda in the lead up to the 2024 presidential election. Musk donated more than $290 million to Republicans in the 2024 cycle and even ran a program that paid some voters in swing states up to $1 million to sign a “petition,” a move that was clearly an effort to pay people to vote for Trump.
Musk, who is currently worth $803 billion, was rewarded with the job overseeing the dismantling of agencies in the federal government under the auspices of DOGE, the department of government efficiency. Ultimately, approximately 300,000 government employees lost their jobs, and USAID was unlawfully disbanded. According to an analysis by The Lancet Global Health, global aid cuts are projected to lead to 23 million deaths by 2030.
Last month, the US Justice Department told French authorities that the US would not assist in any investigation of Musk and X, which was no surprise given the billionaire oligarch’s ties to the Trump regime.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the April letter said, “This investigation seeks to use the criminal legal system in France to regulate the public square for the free expression of ideas and opinions contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.”
Ax did not immediately respond to emailed questions Thursday about whether Musk planned to travel to France. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back.
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