EU Investigates X Over Grok’s Deepfake AI Abuse

WASHINGTON: (Web Desk) – The European Union on Monday launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s X over its AI chatbot Grok, following reports that the tool was generating sexualised deepfake images of women and minors. The probe marks the latest step in an international backlash against the controversial AI service.

Concerns arose after it was revealed that users could manipulate images using simple text prompts such as “put her in a bikini” or “remove her clothes,” creating sexualised depictions of women and children. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the practice, saying, “In Europe, we will not tolerate unthinkable behaviour, such as digital undressing of women and children,” and added that the harm caused by such illegal content is real.

EU Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen said the investigation will assess whether X has fulfilled its obligations under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which is designed to hold tech companies accountable for illegal online content. Brussels also said it will examine whether X has properly mitigated risks related to sexually explicit or child sexual abuse material, particularly as Grok is now powering the platform’s recommendation system.

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The probe comes amid growing international scrutiny of Grok, which reportedly generated an estimated three million sexualised images of women and children in just a few days, according to research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate. While X restricted image generation and editing to paying subscribers, the EU said that such content cannot be treated as a “premium privilege.”

This investigation expands an existing probe into X that began in December 2023, following breaches of transparency rules under the DSA and a 120-million-euro fine. Despite pressure from the U.S. to ease regulations, the EU has emphasized that its enforcement is “firm, fair, and objective,” applying equally to all companies regardless of origin.