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The European Union opened a proper investigation into Elon Musk‘s social media platform X on Monday after his synthetic intelligence chatbot Grok spewed non-consensual sexualized deepfake photos on the platform.
European regulators additionally widened a separate, ongoing investigation into X’s advice methods after the platform mentioned it could swap to Grok’s AI system to decide on which posts customers see.
The scrutiny from Brussels comes after Grok sparked a world backlash by permitting customers via its AI picture technology and modifying capabilities to undress folks, placing females in clear bikinis or revealing clothes.
Researchers mentioned some photos appeared to incorporate youngsters. Some governments banned the service or issued warnings.
The 27-nation EU’s govt mentioned it was trying into whether or not X has executed sufficient as required by the bloc’s digital laws to include the dangers of spreading unlawful content material akin to “manipulated sexually specific photos.”
That features content material that “might quantity to youngster sexual abuse materials,” the European Fee mentioned. These dangers have now “materialized,” the fee mentioned, exposing the bloc’s residents to “critical hurt.”
Regulators will study whether or not Grok resides as much as its obligations below the Digital Companies Act, the bloc’s wide-ranging rule guide for conserving web customers protected from dangerous content material and merchandise.
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In response to a request for remark, an X spokeswoman directed The Related Press to an earlier assertion that the corporate stays “dedicated to creating X a protected platform for everybody” and that it has “zero tolerance” for youngster sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and undesirable sexual content material.
The X assertion from Jan. 14 additionally mentioned it could cease permitting customers to depict folks in “bikinis, underwear or different revealing apparel,” however solely in locations the place it has been deemed unlawful.
“Non-consensual sexual deepfakes of ladies and youngsters are a violent, unacceptable type of degradation,” Henna Virkkunen, an govt vp on the fee, mentioned in an announcement.
“With this investigation, we are going to decide whether or not X has met its authorized obligations below the DSA, or whether or not it handled rights of European residents — together with these of ladies and youngsters – as collateral injury of its service,” mentioned Virkkunen, who oversees tech sovereignty, safety and democracy.
Musk’s synthetic intelligence firm xAI launched Grok’s picture instrument final summer season. However the issue started snowballing solely late final month when Grok seemingly granted numerous person requests to switch photos posted by others.
The issue was amplified each as a result of Musk pitches his chatbot as an edgier different with fewer safeguards than rivals, and since Grok’s responses on X are publicly seen, and may subsequently be simply unfold.
The EU investigation covers solely Grok’s service on X, and never Grok’s web site and standalone app. That’s as a result of the DSA applies solely to the largest on-line platforms.
There’s no deadline for the bloc to resolve the case, which may finish in both X pledging to vary its conduct or a hefty high-quality.
In December Brussels issued X with a 120-million euro (then-$140 million) high-quality as a part of the sooner ongoing DSA investigation, for shortcomings together with blue checkmarks that broke the foundations on “misleading design practices” that risked exposing customers to scams and manipulation.
The bloc has additionally been scrutinizing X over allegations that Grok generated antisemitic materials and has requested the location for extra data.
Malaysia and Indonesia blocked entry to Grok earlier this month in response to the controversy, turning into the primary nations to take action.
On Friday, Malaysian authorities mentioned they lifted the momentary restriction after the corporate applied extra safety and preventive measures, with out giving additional particulars. Malaysian regulators mentioned they met final week with X’s representatives and would proceed to watch the state of affairs.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
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