EU Investigates X Over Grok AI Sexualised Images

The European Union has launched an investigation into X following public outcry regarding the spread of manipulated sexualised images by its artificial intelligence Grok chatbot. The European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's executive arm, will investigate whether X protected consumers by properly assessing and mitigating risks related to Grok's functionalities.

Credit: GROK

This probe follows a separate investigation by British media regulator Ofcom over concerns Grok was creating sexually intimate deepfake images. Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia previously blocked the chatbot temporarily due to similar concerns.

The Commission had previously stated that AI-generated images of undressed women and children shared on X were unlawful and appalling, joining global condemnation. "Non-consensual sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.

Credit: GROK

X referred to a prior statement in which it said owner xAI had restricted image editing for Grok AI users, and blocked users based on their location, from generating images of people in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where it is illegal. X did not identify these specific countries. The Philippines and Malaysia restored access to Grok after xAI indicated it had installed extra safety measures.

The Commission's action falls under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires large technology companies to increase efforts in tackling illegal and harmful online content. This move came after xAI's Grok produced sexualised images of women and minors, which alarmed global regulators.

Companies risk fines as much as 6% of their global annual turnover for DSA breaches. A senior official for the executive told reporters that while the changes made by xAI were welcome, they do not resolve all the issues and systemic risks. The Commission believed X did not carry out an ad hoc assessment when it rolled out Grok's functionalities in Europe, the official added.

The investigation risks antagonising the administration of President Donald Trump, as an EU crackdown on Big Tech has triggered criticism and even the threat of U.S. tariffs. Virkkunen stated, "With this investigation, we will determine whether X has met its legal obligations under the DSA, or whether it treated rights of European citizens - including those of women and children - as collateral damage of its service."

European lawmaker Regina Doherty commented that the case exposed wider weaknesses in how AI technologies are regulated and enforced. She noted, "The AI Act must remain a living piece of legislation. If gaps in enforcement or oversight become clear, then it is our responsibility to address them. EU laws must be enforceable in real time when serious harms occur."

EU regulators also extended a prior investigation into X, opened in December 2023, to establish whether it has properly assessed and mitigated all systemic risks related to its recommender systems. This includes the impact of its recently announced switch to a Grok-based system. Regulators noted X was hit with a 150 million euro fine in December for breaching its transparency obligations under the DSA and may face interim measures in the absence of meaningful adjustments to its service.

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• The European Union has opened an investigation into X over the dissemination of manipulated sexualised images by its Grok AI chatbot.

• The probe focuses on whether X properly assessed and mitigated risks related to Grok's functionalities, aligning with the EU Digital Services Act.

• Prior investigations by Ofcom and temporary blocks by Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia preceded the EU's action.

Source: REUTERS