Probe follows Ofcom inquiry and temporary Grok bans in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
A Downing Street spokesperson added: “We won’t hesitate to go further to protect children online and strengthen the law as needed.” PHOTO: REUTERS
Elon Musk’s social media platform X is being investigated by the European Union over whether it disseminated illegal content, following public outcry over the spread of manipulated sexualised images generated by its artificial intelligence chatbot Grok.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the 27-nation bloc, said on Monday it would examine whether X had properly assessed and mitigated risks related to Grok’s functionalities, as required under EU law.
The probe comes two weeks after British media regulator Ofcom launched its own investigation amid concerns Grok was creating sexually intimate deepfake images, and after Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia temporarily blocked access to the chatbot.
The commission said earlier this month that AI-generated images of undressed women and children being shared on X were unlawful and appalling, echoing condemnation from regulators worldwide.
Read More: Elon Musk’s X faces pressure as Grok AI restrictions roll out
“Non-consensual sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation,” EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.
Deepfake images alarmed regulators globally
X referred to a statement issued on January 14 in which it said its owner, xAI, had restricted image-editing capabilities for Grok users and blocked the generation of images of people in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. It did not specify the countries.
The Philippines and Malaysia later restored access to Grok after xAI said it had implemented additional safety measures.
The commission’s move under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires major online platforms to do more to curb illegal and harmful content, follows concerns that Grok produced sexualised images of women and minors that alarmed regulators globally.
Companies found in breach of the DSA risk fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover.
Although changes introduced by xAI were welcome, they did not fully address all issues and systemic risks, a senior commission official told reporters on Monday. The official added that the commission believed X failed to carry out an ad hoc risk assessment when rolling out Grok’s functionalities in Europe.
EU probe risks irritating Trump
The investigation risks antagonising US President Donald Trump’s administration, as the EU’s tougher stance on Big Tech has drawn criticism and even threats of US trade retaliation.
“With this investigation, we will determine whether X has met its legal obligations under the DSA, or whether it treated the rights of European citizens, including those of women and children, as collateral damage of its service,” Virkkunen said.
Also Read: Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of ‘minors in minimal clothing’ on X
European lawmaker Regina Doherty said the case highlighted broader weaknesses in the regulation and enforcement of artificial intelligence technologies.
“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,” she said.
EU regulators also extended a separate investigation opened in December 2023 into whether X has adequately assessed and mitigated systemic risks linked to its recommender systems, including the impact of its recently announced switch to a Grok-based system.
They said X, which was fined 150 million euros in December for breaching DSA transparency obligations, could face interim measures if it fails to make meaningful adjustments to its service.
