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French Raid on X Offices Triggers UK Data Probe into Grok AI

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Raid Conducted by Paris Prosecutors Targets X’s French Premises On 4 February 2026, Paris prosecutors’ cyber‑crime unit searched X’s Paris office, investigating unlawful data extraction and possible complicity in child‑pornography possession; the operation extends a probe that began in January 2025 and was broadened in July 2025 to include the AI chatbot Grok [1].

Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino Summoned for April Court Appearances Both Elon Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino have been ordered to appear before French courts in April, facing allegations of image‑rights infringements, sexual deepfakes and organized data theft linked to the Grok investigation [1].

UK Information Commissioner Launches Parallel Investigation Into Grok AI Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office, together with Ofcom, opened a probe into how Grok processes personal data to generate intimate or sexualised images without consent, describing the issue as raising “deeply troubling questions” about data safeguards [1].

Musk and X Denounce Raid as Political Attack on Free Speech Musk posted that the French operation was a “political attack,” while X issued a statement calling the raid “abusive,” accusing prosecutors of threatening free speech and expressing disappointment but not surprise [1].

Ofcom Lacks Authority to Examine Illegal Images Generated by Grok Ofcom confirmed it is conducting an urgent investigation of the platform but cannot examine illegal chatbot‑generated images because current regulations do not grant it jurisdiction over such content [1].

Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Condemns French Actions Against Social Networks Pavel Durov criticized France as “the only country… criminally persecuting all social networks,” referencing his own August 2024 arrest and March 2025 release after altering data‑sharing practices [1].

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Timeline

July 2024 – Elon Musk’s xAI unveils the “Grok For Government” model, the first version of Grok intended for unclassified Pentagon networks, laying groundwork for later military deployment [8].

Aug 2024 – Telegram founder Pavel Durov is arrested and detained in France over alleged moderation lapses, later released in March after changing data‑sharing practices, a precedent cited when French authorities later target social‑media firms [1].

Jan 2025 – French prosecutors launch a cyber‑crime probe of X’s Paris office, initially focusing on unlawful data extraction and child‑porn allegations; the investigation later expands to include the AI chatbot Grok [1].

June 2025 – The UK Parliament passes a law criminalising the creation or commissioning of non‑consensual sexual deepfakes, but the measure remains unenforced, prompting criticism that the government is “dragging its heels” on implementation [22].

Late 2025 – Grok’s “edit image” tool floods X with AI‑generated undressed pictures of women and children, sparking global outrage and prompting the first wave of regulatory alerts [6].

Jan 2 2026 – India’s Ministry of Electronics & IT orders X to audit Grok’s technical and governance safeguards and submit an action‑taken report by Jan 5, citing violations of the IT Act and IT Rules [28]; the same day French ministers refer Grok‑related sexual content to prosecutors and ask regulators to check compliance with the EU Digital Services Act [29].

Jan 3 2026 – India’s Meity issues a 72‑hour directive demanding X remove “vulgar, obscene and unlawful” Grok‑generated content, after a Rajya Sabha member’s letter highlights rising misuse of the tool [27].

Jan 5 2026 – Ofcom makes “urgent contact” with xAI over reports that Grok can create sexualised images of children and undressed women, warning that the UK Online Safety Act already makes such deepfakes illegal [25]; the UK government signals it will bring the June 2025 deepfake law into force “this week” [14].

Jan 8 2026 – Campaigners protest that the deepfake offence remains dormant despite passing in June 2025, arguing the delay “feels like a long delay given the urgency of the issue” [22].

Jan 9 2026 – X restricts Grok’s image‑generation and editing features to paying subscribers, displaying a paywall message when non‑subscribers request edits, while UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall warns Ofcom may block X under the Online Safety Act if compliance fails [20][19].

Jan 11 2026 – Newsweek documents viral Grok prompts that digitally undress women, including a 27‑million‑view post by streamer BrookeAb; a petition calling for action gathers over 40,000 signatures, reflecting mounting public pressure [18].

Jan 12 2026 – Ofcom launches a formal investigation into X over Grok’s sexualised deepfakes, setting a deadline for the platform to explain its safeguards and warning of fines up to 10 % of worldwide revenue [15]; the European Commission announces a “very serious” inquiry under the Digital Services Act, while Indonesia and Malaysia enact bans on Grok citing protection of women and minors [16][12].

Jan 13 2026 – Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announces that Grok will go live on classified and unclassified Pentagon networks this month, positioning the tool alongside Google’s AI suite despite the global backlash [13][13]; Malaysia’s regulator temporarily blocks Grok, and Indonesia follows suit [16].

Jan 14 2026 – Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomes X’s steps to comply with UK law, though his office later clarifies he has no new information [11]; Musk posts on X that Grok “will obey the laws of any given country or state” and claims he is unaware of any illegal under‑age images [11].

Jan 15 2026 – X announces that Grok is blocked from editing real‑people images in revealing clothing where illegal, a geoblocked restriction aimed at curbing abuse [5][7]; California Attorney General Rob Bonta opens a state investigation into Grok’s non‑consensual nude deepfakes, describing the surge as “shocking” [9][10].

Jan 17 2026 – Durham law professor Clare McGlynn calls the postponement of the deepfake criminalisation law “frustrating,” noting the bill passed in June 2025 and is due to take effect in February 2026, while she and colleagues draft a second law to force platforms to takedown intimate images [4].

Jan 23 2026 – Belfast City Council’s strategic committee votes 15‑4 to suspend posting on X over Grok concerns, pending ratification at a full council meeting on Feb 2, and highlights that seven Stormont departments spend over £1,300 annually on X subscriptions [3].

Jan 26 2026 – The European Commission formally opens a Digital Services Act investigation into X’s Grok after the “global outrage” over sexualised images, stating the company failed to conduct a proper risk assessment before launch and warning that fines up to 6 % of global turnover are possible [2][6].

Feb 4 2026 – Paris prosecutors raid X’s French offices, searching for evidence of unlawful data extraction and possible complicity in child‑porn possession; Musk denounces the raid as a “political attack,” while X calls it an “abusive act” that threatens free speech [1]; the UK Information Commissioner’s Office launches its own probe into Grok’s processing of personal data for intimate images, joining Ofcom in the investigation [1].

Apr 2026 (planned) – Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino are summoned to appear before French courts for hearings on alleged image‑rights infringements, sexual deepfakes and organized data theft as the French investigation widens [1].

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