EU Investigates Elon Musk’s X Over Grok AI Deepfake Concerns

The European Commission has begun a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X, focusing on the Grok AI scandal where sexual deepfake images of women and children are generated.

This move follows a similar action taken earlier this month by Britain’s telecom regulator, Ofcom. The inquiry will determine if X has violated the provisions of the EU’s Digital Services Act regarding the management of the Grok AI’s capabilities.

If the Commission finds that X has indeed breached its obligations, it could face fines up to 6% of its global annual revenue. This investigation adds to the growing regulatory challenges Musk’s platform is facing.

X’s Safety account has stated that they are actively working to prevent Grok from digitally altering images in jurisdictions where such activities are illegal. However, there are ongoing concerns from regulators and lawmakers about whether these measures are sufficient to protect users in the European Union.

Irish MEP Regina Doherty mentioned that the Commission would investigate whether manipulated sexually explicit images are accessible to EU users. The review will check for compliance with legal standards designed to shield the public from harmful content.

Activists and those affected by deepfakes argue that the capability to create sexually explicit images should never have been permitted. Ofcom is also conducting an independent investigation in the UK that continues alongside the EU’s efforts.

European regulators warn that they may impose temporary measures if X does not make meaningful changes to address these concerns. Furthermore, the Commission announced the expansion of a previously started investigation into the risks associated with X’s recommendation system, which determines the content shown to users.

Hena Virkunen, the executive vice-chair for technology sovereignty, security, and democracy, described sexual deepfakes as “a violent and unacceptable form of degradation.” She stated that the investigation will assess whether X met its legal obligations or treated the rights of European citizens, including women and children, as collateral damage.

This inquiry is not limited to the EU; similar investigations regarding X’s chatbots are happening in Australia, France, and Germany. Though Grok was temporarily banned in Indonesia and Malaysia, the ban has since been lifted in Malaysia.

In a statement to Reuters, Doherty voiced serious concerns about whether platforms like X are fulfilling their legal responsibilities to evaluate risks and curb the dissemination of illegal and harmful content. “The European Union has clear rules to protect people online,” she said. “These rules must have practical implications, especially when powerful technologies are deployed widely. Companies in the EU are not above the law.”

This investigation comes shortly after the EU fined X $140 million for non-compliance with censorship laws, which elicited a diplomatic response from the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the FCC criticized EU regulators, claiming they are targeting American companies.

Rubio remarked, “The European Commission’s fine is not just an attack on Company X, it’s an attack by a foreign government against the entire American technology platform and the American people.” Musk supported this view by sharing Rubio’s statement and agreeing with the criticism of the EU’s actions as hostile to U.S. technology firms.