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IWF Ties X’s Grok to Criminal Child Abuse Images as Global Regulators Escalate Scrutiny

Regulators say company assurances lack technical detail.

Overview

  • The Internet Watch Foundation confirmed analysts found illegal sexual images of children aged 11 to 13 that appear to have been created with Grok and shared on a dark web forum, with some users using the outputs to generate more extreme material with other tools.
  • Downing Street said all options are on the table, including a government boycott of X, as Ofcom weighs enforcement and the UK data regulator sought clarity from X and xAI on protections under data protection law.
  • India’s IT Ministry said X’s response was inadequate and requested specific actions and safeguards to stop Grok-generated obscene content, after an earlier 72-hour directive to remove such material and detail fixes.
  • Ireland’s AI minister Niamh Smyth requested a meeting with X over reports of non-consensual sexualised edits of adults and minors, as the media regulator coordinated with the European Commission on potential breaches.
  • Research cited by Irish officials estimated about 6,700 ‘nudifying’ images per hour from Grok posts, while xAI pledged tougher user enforcement and safeguards even as it announced a $20 billion funding round and Musk flagged a new Grok version without detailing changes.