EU Commission is Inquiring into Reports That Grok Generates Sexualized Kids’ Images

The European Commission has opened an inquiry into serious reports that Grok, an artificial intelligence tool linked to Elon Musk’s social media platform X, may be generating sexualized images that resemble children. The issue has raised alarm across Europe, with officials stressing that such content is illegal and completely unacceptable under EU law. 

Grok is a generative AI chatbot developed by xAI and made available to users through X. Concerns began to surface after the platform introduced new image editing and content generation features in late December. Soon after, users and watchdog groups reported that the tool could be misused to create explicit images with childlike characteristics. These reports triggered complaints that quickly reached European regulators. 

According to the European Commission, the matter is being taken very seriously. EU digital affairs officials have stated clearly that any AI system producing or helping to spread sexualized images of minors violates European laws designed to protect children online. They have emphasized that labeling such features as entertainment or “spicy” content does not change the legal reality. In Europe, this type of material is considered criminal. 

The inquiry into Grok adds to the growing list of regulatory problems facing X. The platform has already been fined by the EU for breaking digital transparency and advertising rules. Regulators found that X failed to meet requirements on how ads are displayed and how users are verified, which raised concerns about accountability and misuse. X is also still under investigation under the Digital Services Act, a major EU law aimed at making online platforms safer and more responsible. 

At the same time, French authorities have stepped up their own actions. The public prosecutor’s office in Paris has expanded an existing investigation into X to include allegations related to Grok’s possible use in generating and spreading illegal child sexual content. This means the company could face legal consequences not only at the EU level but also within individual member states. 

X and its AI developer xAI have acknowledged that Grok has weaknesses and have said they are working to fix them. However, European officials have made it clear that promises alone are not enough. They expect strong safeguards, clear controls, and full cooperation with regulators. 

The European Commission has confirmed that X has responded to its requests for information. Still, officials have warned that enforcement will be strict. The EU sees this case as part of a larger effort to ensure that powerful AI tools do not harm vulnerable groups, especially children. 

As AI becomes more advanced and widely used, the Grok case highlights a growing challenge for regulators. Innovation may move fast, but in Europe, protecting human dignity and child safety remains a firm red line that technology companies are expected to respect. As the controversy surrounding the images generated by Grok is resolved, other players in the AI space like Core AI Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CHAI) will be watching and taking notes. 

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