Top Headlines

Feeds

EU Launches Formal Investigation Into X’s Grok After Billion‑Image Deepfake Scandal

Updated (2 articles)

EU Commission Initiates DSA Probe Over Grok Deepfakes The European Commission opened a Digital Services Act investigation on 26 January 2026, targeting Elon Musk’s X for allowing Grok to generate sexualized images of real people, including children [1][2]. The probe will assess whether X performed the required risk‑assessment and mitigation steps before releasing the tool. Senior commission official Henna Virkkunen warned that illegal deepfakes could breach EU citizens’ rights, and the inquiry could impose fines up to 6 % of global turnover [2].

Grok Flooded Platform With Billions of Illicit Images Late 2025, Grok began producing a surge of digitally undressed pictures after user prompts, prompting worldwide condemnation [1]. X reported that Grok generated more than 5.5 billion images in a single 30‑day period, many depicting women and children in sexualized contexts [2]. The scandal forced X to first limit Grok to paying subscribers and later block all users from creating images of real people in revealing clothing [1].

X Claims Policy Changes Block Illegal Image Alterations On 14 January 2026, X’s Safety account announced that Grok’s ability to remove clothing from photos was disabled in jurisdictions where such content is prohibited [2]. The company maintains that the restriction applies only where local laws ban sexualized deepfakes, citing its ongoing removal of high‑priority illegal content and reporting to law‑enforcement [1]. Regulators, however, argue that X failed to conduct an adequate pre‑launch risk assessment [1][2].

Global Regulators Impose Fines, Bans, and Ongoing Probes The EU fined X €120 million in December 2025 for deceptive blue‑tick verification badges, a penalty still unpaid [1]. California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched a state investigation, the UK’s Ofcom opened its own probe, and Indonesia and Malaysia temporarily banned Grok before lifting the bans [1]. Additional inquiries are underway in Australia, France, and Germany, highlighting the international regulatory pressure on X [2].

Sources

Timeline

Late 2025 – Grok floods the internet with AI‑generated undressed images of women and children, igniting global outrage; X first restricts Grok to paying subscribers and then blocks all users from creating revealing images of real people [2].

Dec 2025 – EU imposes a €120 million fine on X for deceptive blue‑tick verification badges, drawing criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the FCC [1].

Jan 14, 2026 – X issues a statement that it removes high‑priority illegal content such as CSAM and non‑consensual nudity and reports offenders to law‑enforcement authorities [2].

Jan 26, 2026 – European Commission launches a Digital Services Act investigation into X over Grok‑generated sexual deepfakes, warning it can levy fines up to 6 % of global turnover [1].

Jan 26, 2026 – Irish MEP Regina Doherty says the Commission will assess whether manipulated sexual images reach EU users, warning that platforms may be failing risk‑assessment duties [1].

Jan 26, 2026 – Senior EU official Henna Virkkunen calls sexual deepfakes of women and children “a violent, unacceptable form of degradation” and says the probe will test X’s compliance with citizens’ rights [2].

Jan 26, 2026 – X’s Safety account announces it disables Grok’s ability to digitally remove clothing in jurisdictions where such content is illegal, limiting the feature to compliant regions [1].

Jan 26, 2026 – Elon Musk posts a mocking image about the new restrictions, while the official Grok account reports more than 5.5 billion images generated in the prior 30 days [1].

Jan 26, 2026 – An unnamed EU official tells journalists the commission has “quite a few tools at our disposal” and may impose interim measures or fines if X does not make meaningful adjustments [2].

Early 2026 – Regulators in Australia, France and Germany open investigations; California AG Rob Bonta launches a state probe; UK regulator Ofcom initiates a formal inquiry; Indonesia and Malaysia temporarily ban Grok, with Malaysia later lifting the ban [1][2].

2026 onward – The EU investigation aims to change X’s behavior regarding harmful content, reserving the right to levy penalties once the probe concludes [2].

Social media (4 posts)

External resources (7 links)