Elon Musk's artificial intelligence Grok sparks AI exploitation controversy; Europe, India, and Malaysia launch multi-country investigations

Elon Musk’s community platform X (formerly Twitter) and its AI chatbot Grok have recently been embroiled in a sexual exploitation storm. The platform allows users to create and share AI-generated sexualized images of children and women, sparking strong concern and investigations by regulatory agencies worldwide. The EU, India, Malaysia, and Brazil have all taken action, demanding reviews of related features and even suspensions. Despite ongoing controversy, X’s traffic and download numbers have grown against the trend, raising further doubts and unease.

Grok Sparks Controversy: AI-Generated Sexualized Images Become Global Focus

Recently, X has become the focus of international news due to controversy surrounding its AI chatbot Grok. According to multiple media reports, users can input prompts via Grok’s “Imagine” feature to generate sexualized images based on real people, including content suspected of child sexual exploitation. These AI-created images are widely shared on X, fueling a wave of “Non-Consensual Intimate Images” (NCII) dissemination.

EU Angrily Denounces: Calls It “Illegal and Disgusting”

The EU is highly concerned about this incident. EU Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier emphasized at a Monday press conference: “This is not some ‘Spicy Mode’; it is illegal, shameful, and disgusting behavior. Such content has no place in Europe.” He confirmed that the EU is “taking this very seriously” and investigating the matter, citing Grok’s release of explicit modes and even child-like images.

UK media regulator Ofcom has also stated it has formally requested information from X regarding Grok to investigate potential violations of UK laws and platform safety standards.

Asia Actions: India and Malaysia Launch Investigations and Demand Improvements

India’s government has also taken a tough stance. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has ordered X to complete a “comprehensive review of technology, procedures, and governance” by January 5 to ensure compliance with Indian cybersecurity regulations.

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced last weekend that it has launched an investigation and will summon X representatives. MCMC stated: “All platforms accessible in Malaysia should implement protective mechanisms consistent with local laws, especially concerning AI-driven features, chatbots, and image processing tools.”

Brazil and the US Join Concerns: Call for Suspension of Grok

In South America, a female legislator in Brazil publicly urged the country’s federal prosecutors and data protection agencies to suspend Grok until investigations are complete.

In the US, the national nonprofit “National Center on Sexual Exploitation” (NCOSE) has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate. Legal Director Dani Pinter pointed out that although existing laws lack specific precedents for AI-generated images, if images can identify children or depict minors engaging in sexual acts, they are illegal.

A DOJ spokesperson told media: “The Department of Justice takes AI-generated child sexual exploitation content very seriously and will actively prosecute anyone involved in manufacturing or possessing CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material).”

Elon Musk’s Casual Response: “Funny Pictures” to the Controversy

Despite widespread concern and condemnation of harmful content on X, Musk himself seems to dismiss the issue as not serious. He posted a series of humorous images generated by Grok on his personal account, including a simulated image of himself in a bikini, accompanied by laughing-crying emojis, which security experts and commentators criticized as “irresponsible and reckless.”

X’s Response: “Actions Taken,” but Lacking Specific Measures

On Saturday, X’s official “X Safety” account responded for the first time, stating that it would take action against illegal content, including removing CSAM, permanently banning violating accounts, and cooperating with law enforcement. Musk added: “Anyone using Grok to generate illegal content will face the same consequences as directly uploading illegal content.”

However, external doubts remain whether these measures are sufficient. An xAI employee, Ethan He, stated on X that the Grok Imagine feature has been updated but did not specify whether restrictions on generating explicit images have been implemented.

Lack of AI Content Moderation? Industry Experts Point Out “Basic Protections Are Not in Place”

Tom Quisel, CEO of Musubi AI, criticized that xAI did not establish even “basic trust and safety mechanisms” when launching Grok Imagine. He explained that technically, it is simple to identify and block images containing children or nudity, and to detect inappropriate content in user prompts and refuse to generate such images.

Controversy Boosts Downloads? Grok and X See Significant Rise

Despite the ongoing controversy, the usage of Grok and X has not declined. According to app data firm Apptopia, since January 2, Grok’s daily downloads have increased by 54%, and X’s downloads have risen 25% over the past three days.

This unusual growth trend has led many observers to worry that the platform may be intentionally tolerating controversy to stimulate discussion and boost user activity.

This article “Elon Musk’s AI Grok Sparks AI Sexual Exploitation Controversy, Europe, India, Malaysia Launch Multiple Investigations” first appeared on ABMedia.