Telegram Founder Durov Blasts France! Police Raid X Office Sparks Controversy

French Raids X Paris Headquarters, Investigates Child Sexual Abuse Images, AI Deepfake, and Holocaust Denial Content, Summons Musk for Questioning on April 20. Telegram Founder Durov Criticizes “France as the Only Country Prosecuting Free Social Networks,” Accuses It of Using Child Protection as Censorship. Grok Blocked by Malaysia and Indonesia Over Deepfake Pornography, EU Fines €120 Million.

French Prosecutors Raid X Paris Headquarters, Escalate Regulatory Crackdown

On Tuesday, French prosecutors raided X’s Paris headquarters as part of an expanded investigation into alleged child sexual abuse images, AI-generated deepfake images, and Holocaust denial content on the platform. This raid, supported by Europol, marks a significant escalation in European regulatory actions against Musk’s social media empire. Prosecutors have summoned Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino for “voluntary questioning” on April 20.

The Paris Cybercrime Division launched a preliminary investigation in January 2025, initially focusing on whether the platform’s algorithms exhibited bias, leading to distortions in automated data processing systems.

Charges under investigation include conspiracy to possess and distribute child sexual abuse images, production of explicit deepfake videos, denial of crimes against humanity, and manipulation of automated data systems as part of organized crime groups. The prosecutor’s office announced searches on X itself, after which the platform announced on Twitter that it would exit the French market and urged its users to migrate to other social media platforms.

Four Major Charges Against X Platform in France

Child Sexual Abuse Content: Conspiracy to possess and distribute child abuse images

Deepfake Pornography: Grok generated tens of thousands of non-consensual sexual suggestive images

Algorithm Bias: Automated data processing systems exhibit discriminatory bias

Organized Crime: Manipulating systems as a member of a criminal organization

X issued a statement condemning the raid as “an abuse of law enforcement powers, a show aimed at achieving illegal political goals rather than advancing legitimate law enforcement rooted in fair justice.” The company denied all charges and characterized France’s actions as politically motivated censorship. This tough response indicates Musk’s unwillingness to compromise, potentially escalating into a long-term legal battle with French authorities.

Durov of Telegram Criticizes France’s Digital Dictatorship

Telegram founder Pavel Durov, after his arrest in August 2024, faces similar charges. He defended X and criticized French authorities. Durov wrote on X: “French police are currently raiding X’s Paris office. France is the only country in the world prosecuting all social networks (Telegram, X, TikTok) that provide some degree of freedom to people. Don’t be mistaken: this is not a free country.”

He added: “Using child protection as a pretext to legitimize censorship and mass surveillance is disgusting. These people will stop at nothing.” His remarks reveal his core argument: that French authorities, under the guise of protecting children, are actually pushing for comprehensive control and content censorship of social platforms. He sees this as a “Trojan horse” strategy, using moral high ground to achieve political aims.

Durov’s comments sparked polarized reactions online. Some users agreed, with one calling France’s approach a “primer for digital dictatorship,” and describing Durov’s arrest as a “warning for future developments.” Supporters believe France is setting a dangerous precedent that, if followed by other countries, could threaten global free speech and platform independence.

Others called for more nuanced analysis. “Platforms like Telegram and X are not just ‘free tools.’ They can also be used to spread hate, coordinate violence, and destabilize society,” one user wrote. “Reducing the issue to a binary ‘free country vs. unfree country’ oversimplifies many realities.” Critics argue that platforms should bear some responsibility for their content, and complete laissez-faire could lead to more severe social harms.

Grok Controversy and Rising Global Regulatory Pressure

Grok, the chatbot developed by xAI, is at the center of controversy. Last month, Grok sparked global outrage with its “explosive mode,” which generates tens of thousands of non-consensual sexual deepfake images upon user request. This feature raises serious ethical and legal concerns, as it can be exploited to produce fake pornographic images of celebrities or ordinary individuals, damaging reputations and causing psychological trauma.

Although Grok later reversed its decision and admitted fault, the damage was done. Malaysia and Indonesia became the first countries to fully ban Grok, with Malaysia also announcing legal actions against X and xAI. This swift global regulatory response underscores that AI-generated content regulation has become a top priority for governments worldwide.

France is not the only country scrutinizing Musk’s platforms. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office has launched an investigation into how X and xAI handle personal data during Grok’s development, while Ofcom, the UK media regulator, is conducting an independent inquiry that could take months. The EU launched an investigation last month into deepfake incidents and has already imposed a €120 million fine for violations of digital regulations, including deceptive blue verification behaviors.

As Musk consolidates his tech assets, legal pressures mount. SpaceX announced on Monday the acquisition of xAI, merging Grok, X, and satellite communications company Starlink into a single entity, which could complicate cross-jurisdictional regulation. Regulating a single platform is already challenging; integrating multiple services into one giant entity exponentially increases the difficulty for regulators to coordinate different legal frameworks.