AB Investigating X Platform Over Grok's Sexualized Deepfakes

The European Union Commission has launched an investigation into the X platform, owned by Elon Musk, over alleged sexually explicit fake images (deepfakes) reportedly generated by its AI assistant, Grok. The investigation will examine whether the platform has properly assessed and mitigated the risks associated with such content under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Scope Widens: A New Dimension Added to the Existing Investigation

EU authorities took action following concerns raised by activist groups and politicians worldwide. These concerns focus on the potential for Grok's image editing feature to be used to generate sexualized images of women and children on the platform. Although X later limited this feature to paid subscribers in public post replies, image generation via Grok's chat interface remains accessible to everyone.

The investigation has been expanded as part of the EU's ongoing inquiries into the X platform. Additionally, the platform's Grok-powered content recommendation system will also be scrutinized. The EU had previously fined X $140 million for its 'deceptive' blue tick verification practice.

Risk of High Fines and Official Statement

The Commission announced that if X is found to have violated its DSA obligations, the platform could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover. In a statement, Henna Virkkunen, Vice-President of the European Commission for Technology Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, said, "Sexualized deepfakes of women and children are a form of violent and unacceptable degradation."

Virkkunen stated, "With this investigation, we will determine whether X is fulfilling its legal obligations under the DSA or whether it views the rights of European citizens—including women and children—as collateral damage of its service."

This development has further fueled the global debate on the ethical use of AI tools and the responsibility of technology companies. The X platform has not yet issued an official statement on the matter. The subsequent stages of the investigation could set a precedent for other platforms using similar AI systems.