Department of Justice rejects French request to assist in criminal probe against X, owned by Elon Musk. The DOJ called the inquiry an attempt to "wrongfully regulate through prosecution" and cited First Amendment concerns, arguing it targets free expression. France accuses X of algorithm manipulation, fraudulent data extraction, and disseminating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and Holocaust denial content.

French authorities raided X's Paris office in February and issued summonses for Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino to testify April 20. The probe, ongoing since July, also includes allegations of data extraction fraud. French prosecutors sought U.S. cooperation to compel interviews, but the DOJ refused, stating the case risks politicizing legal systems to regulate speech.

An xAI spokesperson called the DOJ's decision "gratifying" and reiterated X's innocence, calling the investigation "baseless." Musk, who has faced prior legal scrutiny over content moderation, faces mounting pressure as regulators worldwide target tech giants.

This clash highlights tensions between international legal frameworks and free speech principles. The CSAM and Holocaust denial allegations underscore risks of algorithmic governance, while X's defiance signals growing corporate resistance to foreign regulatory overreach.