Elon Musk’s X Faces Global Scrutiny After Grok Generates Explicit Images

Authorities in Europe, India, and Malaysia have launched investigations into X after its AI chatbot Grok was used to generate and circulate explicit images derived from real people. The probes follow a surge in nonconsensual intimate imagery appearing on the platform after recent updates to Grok’s image-generation features.

In the European Union, officials said they are examining whether the content violates regional laws. A spokesperson for the European Commission described the outputs as illegal and unacceptable, adding that regulators are “very seriously” assessing the matter. In the U.K., media regulator Ofcom has requested information from X.

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ordered X to conduct a comprehensive review of Grok’s safeguards, while Malaysia’s communications regulator said it would summon company representatives. In Brazil, a lawmaker has called for Grok’s suspension pending investigation.

In the United States, advocacy group National Center on Sexual Exploitation urged the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. The DOJ said it would aggressively pursue cases involving AI-generated child sexual abuse material, noting existing federal laws can apply to virtual content when it depicts identifiable minors.

X and its AI subsidiary xAI said they remove illegal content, suspend offending accounts, and cooperate with authorities. Elon Musk warned that users prompting Grok to produce illegal material would face consequences, though critics argue the platform lacked adequate safeguards at launch.

Despite the backlash, engagement appears resilient. Data from Apptopia show daily downloads of Grok rose 54% since Jan. 2, while X downloads increased 25% over the past three days. The episode underscores the growing regulatory and reputational risks facing platforms deploying generative AI at scale—and the urgency of building robust trust and safety controls.