The EU is probing Grok over its spreading of sexual AI images

• Grok is facing another investigation over AI-generated sexual images — this time from the EU.
• The European Commission said it had opened a probe into X over the spread of images generated by Grok.
• X previously said it had removed Grok’s ability to edit images of real people into revealing clothing after a global backlash.

The European Union is launching an investigation into Grok as Elon Musk’s AI chatbot continues to face backlash over its spreading of AI-generated sexual images.

The European Commission, the bloc’s governing body, said on Monday that it had opened a formal investigation into X over the spread of illegal images, including possible child sexual abuse material, generated by Grok on the platform.

The Commission said it would also extend an ongoing investigation into X’s recommendation algorithm, with the regulator previously fining the social media platform $140 million over its “deceptive” blue checkmarks. xAI did not respond to a request for comment on the new investigation.

It comes after X said it had implemented “technological measures” to prevent users from editing images of real people into revealing clothing, after a wave of global backlash over the circulation of AI-generated sexual images on the site.

X made the change after California’s attorney general and the UK media regulator both launched investigations into Grok — although Business Insider’s Henry Chandonnet found that the AI chatbot could still be used to make sexualized images in the days after.