EU orders X to keep Grok data amid AI sexualised image outrage

Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok has drawn international backlash over sexualised deepfakes of women and minors. — AFP pic

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 — The EU executive yesterday said it ordered Elon Musk’s Grok to keep data related to the AI chatbot after the tool sparked a backlash for generating sexualised deepfakes of minors.

The order means the EU executive can ask X for access to the documents as it looks into the platform and Grok.

Complaints flooded the internet after the recent rollout of an “edit image” button on Grok, which enabled users to alter online images with prompts such as “put her in a bikini” or “remove her clothes”.

The European Union has described the chatbot’s output as “illegal” and “unacceptable”, and said Grok would face greater scrutiny.

Now the European Commission “has ordered X to retain all internal documents and data relating to Grok, and they have to do it until the end of 2026,” EU digital affairs spokesman Thomas Regnier said.

He said it was an extension of a retention order sent to X last year over its “algorithms and recommender systems on the dissemination of illegal content”.

Musk’s social media platform X has been the target of an investigation since December 2023 under the EU’s mammoth digital content rules.

Brussels slapped a 120-million-euro ($140-million) fine in December on X for violating the transparency obligations of the law known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), triggering angry reactions from the US administration.

The breaches include the deceptive design of its “blue checkmark” for supposedly verified accounts, and failure to provide access to public data for researchers.

But X remains under investigation over tackling the spread of illegal content and information manipulation.

EU-US showdown 

The EU has insisted it will enforce its rules despite Washington’s ire.

“The DSA is very clear in Europe. All platforms have to get their own house in order, because what they’re generating here is unacceptable, and compliance with EU law is not an option. It’s an obligation,” Regnier said.

More than 30 lawmakers belonging to the EU parliament’s liberal Renew group put pressure on commission president Ursula von der Leyen in a letter dated Wednesday, urging more aggressive action including a probe under the DSA.

“Make no mistake, it’s not just a famous people issue, it’s not just a women’s issue. All the pictures of you or your kids ever posted on Facebook or Instagram are just one click away to being turned into porn on Grok,” EU lawmaker Veronika Cifrova said.

In response to the scandal, a slew of Irish women’s rights and child protection groups also announced Thursday that they were quitting X.

The groups involved include Women’s Aid in Ireland, the CyberSafeKids child protection NGO and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC).

“The organisation has watched the increased levels of unchecked hate, misogyny, racism and anti-LGBTI+ content on the platform with growing unease and concern,” Women’s Aid in Ireland said.

“The current scandal... is a tipping point,... we no longer view it as appropriate to use such a platform to share our work.”

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation trade union also called on the government and the EU to take “immediate action” to protect the safety and wellbeing of children and women. — AFP