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EU launches investigation into X over Grok-generated sexual images

Recorded: Jan. 26, 2026, 9 p.m.

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EU launches investigation into X over Grok-generated sexual images

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HomeNewsArtificial IntelligenceEU launches investigation into X over Grok-generated sexual images

EU launches investigation into X over Grok-generated sexual images

By Sergiu Gatlan

January 26, 2026
12:14 PM
2

The European Commission announced today that it has launched formal proceedings under the Digital Services Act to investigate whether X properly assessed risks before deploying its Grok artificial intelligence tool, following its use to generate sexually explicit images.
The commission noted that these potential risks "seem to have materialised," seeing that the AI-powered tool was used to create "manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material."
"Sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation," said EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen. "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."

UK authorities are also scrutinizing the platform after the Grok AI chatbot account on X was used to generate undressed images of X users and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Following the widespread reports raising concerns about Grok-generated content, the Information Commissioner's Office contacted X and xAI on January 7 for more details on the measures taken to comply with data protection law, while Ofcom (the UK's independent online safety watchdog) launched its own investigation on January 12.
Days later, after California Attorney General Rob Bonta opened another investigation into the nonconsensual sexually explicit material generated using Grok, X announced that it would limit Grok's image generation and editing capabilities to paid subscribers.
X's move was later described by a UK Prime Minister's spokesperson as "insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence" because it turned the Grok "AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service."
Since it was designated a very large online platform under EU law (following its announcement that it had reached over 45 million monthly active users in the European Union), X must now mitigate all potential systemic risks as defined in the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), including the spread of illegal content and threats to fundamental rights.
The European Commission also fined X €120 million ($140 million) in December for violations of transparency obligations and transparency requirements under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

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Sergiu Gatlan
Sergiu is a news reporter who has covered the latest cybersecurity and technology developments for over a decade. Email or Twitter DMs for tips.

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Comments

ken_smon - 1 day ago

 
 

If neither the fact that it does not provide value nor the fact that the environmental costs are enormous doesn't kill pseudo-AI, the EU will kill it with bureaucracy.
Not that generating sexual images should necessarily be 'allowed', but every time a limit is placed on pseudo-AI, it takes it further from being anything like intelligent.

ThomasMann - 1 day ago

 
 

Surely you cannot still believe that governments worldwide could possibly allow any part of the internet that can avoid control? Even Crypto Currencies are nowadays so regulated that it is basically impossible to withdraw any coins in the form of fiat money, without government knowledge. Once they manage to come up with a software that can hack VPNs they will certainly do so...
The future will be run by psychopaths....

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This document details a formal investigation initiated by the European Commission into X (formerly Twitter) regarding the deployment of its Grok artificial intelligence tool and its use in generating sexually explicit images, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The investigation stems from widespread concerns and reports of Grok’s misuse, prompting scrutiny from various regulatory bodies, including the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK and Ofcom, alongside an investigation by the California Attorney General, Rob Bonta.

Following these initial concerns, X implemented a strategy to limit Grok’s image generation and editing capabilities to a paid subscription service. This action was criticized by Prime Minister’s spokesperson as “insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.” X’s classification as a very large online platform under EU law, due to exceeding 45 million monthly active users within the European Union, obligated the company to mitigate systemic risks as defined in the Digital Services Act (DSA). This includes addressing the spread of illegal content and threats to fundamental rights.

In December 2026, the European Commission levied a fine of €120 million (approximately $140 million) against X for violations of transparency obligations under the DSA. The investigation highlights the heightened regulatory focus on AI-generated content and the potential risks associated with deploying such tools without adequate safeguards. The activity specifically references the use of Grok to generate undressed images of X users and the substantial impact this has had on the company. The response of regulatory agencies suggests a proactive effort to control and manage the unintended consequences of emerging AI technologies. The situation underscores the challenging task for large online platforms to balance innovation with the protection of vulnerable individuals and adherence to evolving legal frameworks like the Digital Services Act.