The European Union has initiated an inquiry into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, to ascertain whether it "properly assessed and mitigated risks" stemming from the image editing functionalities of its Grok AI.
This investigation by the European Commission specifically targets X's Grok AI chatbot, following concerns regarding its generation of sexualized deepfakes. As initially reported by The New York Times, the Commission's announcement details its intent to evaluate if X adequately "assessed and mitigated risks" pertaining to Grok’s image-generating capabilities within the EU.
The alarm was initially sounded by advocacy groups and lawmakers globally, who highlighted Grok’s AI image editing feature after it was observed fulfilling requests to create sexualized imagery of women and minors on the platform. While X subsequently restricted the ability to edit images in public replies behind a paywall, the functionality to generate images via Grok’s chatbot interface within X remains accessible to all users.
Central to the EU Commission's inquiry is determining whether X has contravened the Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to hold large online platforms legally responsible for the content disseminated through their services. This current probe also expands upon a broader 2023 investigation into X, which will now encompass an examination of the platform's Grok-powered recommendation system. Notably, the EU previously imposed a $140 million fine on X for "deceptive" blue checkmarks in relation to this ongoing inquiry.
In a press release, Henna Virkkunen, the EU Commission’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation.” She further articulated the objective of the investigation, adding, “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.”
Should X be found in violation of the DSA once more, it faces the prospect of substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 6 percent of its annual global revenue.
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