The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI company, over serious concerns regarding the generation and dissemination of explicit imagery. This significant regulatory action follows widespread reports that the AI tool was being utilised to digitally remove clothing from images of women and children, creating unlawful and deeply concerning content.
European Parliament Announces Formal Probe
Regina Doherty, a prominent member of the European Parliament representing Ireland, publicly announced the investigation on Monday. The probe will thoroughly examine whether X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has fully complied with its extensive obligations under the European Union's comprehensive digital legislation framework.
"This case raises very serious questions about whether platforms are meeting their legal obligations to assess risks properly and to prevent illegal and harmful content from spreading," Ms Doherty stated in an official emailed statement. She emphasised that the investigation would scrutinise multiple areas including risk mitigation protocols, content governance systems, and the protection of fundamental rights as mandated by EU law.
Global Condemnation and Regulatory Response
Earlier in January, the European Commission joined international condemnation by declaring that the AI-generated images of undressed women and children circulating on X were both unlawful and appalling. This announcement came amidst growing global concern about the rapid proliferation of harmful AI-generated content and the adequacy of existing regulatory frameworks to address these emerging technological challenges.
Ms Doherty highlighted that these disturbing images have exposed significant weaknesses in how emerging artificial intelligence technologies are currently regulated and enforced across digital platforms. "The European Union has clear rules to protect people online. Those rules must mean something in practice, especially when powerful technologies are deployed at scale. No company operating in the EU is above the law," she asserted firmly.
Company Safeguards and Geographical Restrictions
In response to mounting criticism, xAI implemented several technical adjustments in mid-January aimed at preventing misuse of the Grok chatbot. The company announced it had introduced tweaks specifically designed to stop the AI from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis.
Additionally, xAI stated it had implemented geographical restrictions, blocking users in certain jurisdictions from generating images of people in revealing clothing where such content creation would be illegal. However, the company notably declined to identify which specific jurisdictions were subject to these restrictions, leaving questions about the comprehensiveness and transparency of these protective measures.
Parallel UK Investigation by Ofcom
Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, has launched its own separate investigation earlier this month into whether X has complied with its duties under the UK's Online Safety Act. This parallel regulatory action underscores the growing international concern about content moderation and platform responsibility in the age of advanced artificial intelligence.
The European Union's increasingly assertive crackdown on Big Tech companies has already triggered significant criticism and even threats of retaliatory tariffs from the United States government, highlighting the geopolitical dimensions of digital regulation. A European Commission spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation about the investigation's formal opening, while X similarly did not provide comment on the developing situation.
