Musk's AI chatbot Grok faces global backlash over sexualized images

Authorities worldwide have condemned Grok after reports said its image tool produced sexualized images of women and some images that appeared to be under 18; regulators in the U.K., EU, France, India, Malaysia, Poland and Brazil have contacted X or launched inquiries.

Elon Musk's chatbot Grok and its image tool have drawn criticism from governments after reports said the system generated sexualized images of women and some images that appeared to show people under 18. The image feature, launched last year as part of Grok Imagine and described as able to produce adult content, reportedly began processing many requests to alter photos posted by others. Nonprofit analysis cited in reports examined tens of thousands of Grok-generated images and found a small share that appeared to involve underage people. Platform statements acknowledged the problematic content and said actions are taken against illegal material. What officials say: - U.K. ministers called for urgent action and Ofcom has made "urgent contact" with X to understand compliance with U.K. rules. - The European Commission said it is aware of sexually explicit output, including some child-like images, and is analysing X's response. - French prosecutors are widening an existing investigation to include sexually explicit deepfakes posted on X. - India's technology ministry ordered X to remove unlawful content and review Grok's governance, giving a 72-hour deadline that passed with no public update. Summary: Regulators and officials across several countries have publicly condemned Grok and have sought information, opened investigations, or demanded action from X and xAI. Platform posts acknowledged the presence of troubling content and described enforcement steps; multiple formal inquiries are under way, and further legal or regulatory outcomes are undetermined at this time.