Europe Launches Major Investigation into Elon Musk’s X After Sexualized Image Uproar
The European Union is investigating Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot on X following significant public backlash over its generation of sexually explicit images, including those of children. The controversy began late last year when the chatbot produced inappropriate images in response to user prompts.
Investigation Details
The European Commission announced the investigation to determine if X adequately assessed risks tied to Grok’s functionalities. Henna Virkkunen, a senior commission official, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that “sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation.” The inquiry aims to clarify whether X has fulfilled its legal responsibilities to safeguard European citizens, particularly vulnerable groups.
X’s Response
In a previous statement, X acknowledged its commitment to removing harmful content, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and non-consensual nudity. Despite this, a European Commission official noted that X did not sufficiently evaluate the risks before launching Grok.
Legal Framework
The investigation falls under the EU’s Digital Services Act, compelling major tech firms to tackle illegal content more effectively. Although there is no set timeline for the inquiry’s conclusion, the commission has various enforcement tools at its disposal, including potential fines. The official hinted that the focus is on modifying X’s operational behavior.
Previous Consequences
In December, the EU fined X approximately $140 million due to issues related to the deceptive design of its verification features, which violated the Digital Services Act. Musk referred to the sanction as “crazy.” The fine remains unpaid, but the company still has time to resolve the matter.
Concurrent Investigations
In addition to the EU’s probe, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has launched an investigation into the distribution of non-consensual sexually explicit materials created with Grok. The chatbot remains prohibited in Indonesia and Malaysia due to the controversy surrounding its image generation capabilities. Recently, UK regulator Ofcom also initiated an official inquiry into X.
- Key Points of Interest:
- European Union investigates Grok’s dangerous functionalities.
- Focus on risks to vulnerable individuals, especially women and children.
- Possible modifications to X’s platform behavior based on findings.
- California and UK regulators also conducting related investigations.
