EU Launches Investigation Into X Regarding Grok’s Creation of Sexualized Imagery, According to Lawmaker
The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, focusing on the generation of explicit imagery. Regina Doherty, a member of the European Parliament representing Ireland, made this announcement on Monday.
The investigation aims to determine whether X, the platform hosting Grok, has adhered to its obligations under EU digital legislation. This includes evaluating compliance with requirements related to risk mitigation, content governance, and the safeguarding of fundamental rights, as stated by Doherty.
This inquiry could potentially strain relations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, as the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech has already sparked criticism and threats of tariffs from the United States.
Read more: Factbox: Elon Musk’s Grok Faces Global Scrutiny for Sexualized AI Deepfakes
A spokesperson for the Commission did not immediately respond to inquiries about the confirmation of the investigation’s initiation. Similarly, X has yet to provide a comment regarding the matter.
Doherty emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “This case raises very serious questions about whether platforms are meeting their legal obligations to assess risks properly and to prevent illegal and harmful content from spreading.”
Earlier this month, the Commission condemned the AI-generated images of undressed women and children circulating on X, labeling them as unlawful and appalling. This condemnation aligns with a global outcry against such content.
xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Musk, announced in mid-January that it had made adjustments to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real individuals in revealing clothing, such as bikinis. The company also stated that it had blocked users in certain jurisdictions from generating images of people in revealing attire, although it did not specify which locations were affected.
Doherty pointed out that these troubling images have highlighted broader deficiencies in the regulation and enforcement of emerging AI technologies. “The European Union has clear rules to protect people online. Those rules must mean something in practice, especially when powerful technologies are deployed at scale. No company operating in the EU is above the law,” she asserted.
In a related development, Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, has launched its own investigation to assess whether X has complied with its obligations under the UK’s Online Safety Act.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James and Alexander Smith)
The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, focusing on the generation of explicit imagery. Regina Doherty, a member of the European Parliament representing Ireland, made this announcement on Monday.
The investigation aims to determine whether X, the platform hosting Grok, has adhered to its obligations under EU digital legislation. This includes evaluating compliance with requirements related to risk mitigation, content governance, and the safeguarding of fundamental rights, as stated by Doherty.
This inquiry could potentially strain relations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, as the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech has already sparked criticism and threats of tariffs from the United States.
Read more: Factbox: Elon Musk’s Grok Faces Global Scrutiny for Sexualized AI Deepfakes
A spokesperson for the Commission did not immediately respond to inquiries about the confirmation of the investigation’s initiation. Similarly, X has yet to provide a comment regarding the matter.
Doherty emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “This case raises very serious questions about whether platforms are meeting their legal obligations to assess risks properly and to prevent illegal and harmful content from spreading.”
Earlier this month, the Commission condemned the AI-generated images of undressed women and children circulating on X, labeling them as unlawful and appalling. This condemnation aligns with a global outcry against such content.
xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Musk, announced in mid-January that it had made adjustments to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real individuals in revealing clothing, such as bikinis. The company also stated that it had blocked users in certain jurisdictions from generating images of people in revealing attire, although it did not specify which locations were affected.
Doherty pointed out that these troubling images have highlighted broader deficiencies in the regulation and enforcement of emerging AI technologies. “The European Union has clear rules to protect people online. Those rules must mean something in practice, especially when powerful technologies are deployed at scale. No company operating in the EU is above the law,” she asserted.
In a related development, Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, has launched its own investigation to assess whether X has complied with its obligations under the UK’s Online Safety Act.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James and Alexander Smith)
